This is a collaborative post.
Coffee preparation methods have changed dramatically in the last 20 years. Nowadays, there are so many different ways for us to brew our coffee at home, from using freshly ground coffee or pod machines, to using a cafetière or French press to make our morning cup of joe.
While most coffee machines can actually be dated back hundreds of years, some of the coffee-brewing methods we use today were actually pioneered as far back as the 1800s. As time has gone on, however, the use of electrical technology – not to mention smart technology – has changed the way our coffee machines work, and the options we have to brew our coffee.
Early evolution of coffee-making
Back in the 1860s, an American man named James Nason invented the coffee percolator and filed a patent. Eventually, this model evolved to a stove-top percolator for making coffee from ground beans.
Before we hit the 1900s, the espresso machine was invented, but it didn’t really take off at the time. It’s an interesting thought when you’re drinking your latte, though, that the roots of coffee actually go back to over 100 years ago.
In 1901, Milanese mechanic, Luigi Bezzera changed the coffee industry by patenting a number of improvements to the espresso machine. This is one of the many reasons why the Italians have such a strong link to coffee. A man called Desiderio Pavoni then bought the patents, and founded the La Pavoni coffee brand. He went on to produce espresso machines commercially, which were on sale in Italy by 1906.
By the 1950s, the Moka Pot, French Press, and the first paper-filter coffee machines had entered the market.
Around the same time, the first electric drip coffee maker was invented. This can be seen as a ‘changing of the guard’ in the world of coffee preparation, as we didn’t really look back once electric drippers became a thing. Meanwhile, the first pump-driven espresso machines also came to market, further upping the barista game.
A history of coffee pod machines
Coffee pods began their journey in the 1980s, although it would take them nearly 30 years to grow popular. Initially, they were manufactured by the Nestle coffee brand, Nespresso, after engineer, Eric Favre, spotted a gap in the market for a pod machine that could mimic how a barista works with freshly ground coffee.
It took Favre around a decade to create his brewer, which injected pressurised air into water and coffee to produce crema, which had more of a barista-style feel to it.
The brewer and associated pods enjoyed some limited success in the 80s and 90s, but it wasn’t really until the 21st Century when capsules and pods really began to become a more mainstream way of preparing coffee. Nowadays, this is one of the popular ways you can make coffee at home both easily and conveniently. Most supermarkets stock a variety of pods and capsules to suit different coffee pod machines, with some brands also offering pods for flavoured coffees and hot chocolate.
Bean-to-cup coffee machines
Bean-to-cup coffee machines grew in popularity on a similar trajectory to pod machines. Likewise, they also became more popular as they became more affordable and practical to install within the home.
That said, the majority of bean-to-cup machines are actually found in commercial settings, such as in restaurants that serve coffee, but do not employ a barista.
Nowadays, there are dozens of options for brewing coffee using this kind of machine, especially if you’re looking for a simpler way to make espresso-based drinks.
While the espresso machine has also seen big changes in this time, not a great deal has changed in terms of how. the coffee is prepared.
The future of coffee machines
More affordable. This seems to be the trend in the industry at the moment. While coffee pods can be fairly expensive, coffee machines seem to be getting more affordable.
Smart technology Smart techn has already started creeping into the world of coffee, and you can already get some machines that will work in conjunction with an app. You can also store user profiles, and more, on modern machines. Over time, expect this to become the norm, as coffee machines begin to integrate more with the smart tools and tech in our lives. Some coffee machines can even be controlled by Alexa.
Undoubtedly, coffee machines will continue to evolve in the future. Though the urban myth that coffee beans are the most commonly traded commodity is wide of the mark, coffee is definitely here to stay – and so is our appetite to enjoy freshly brewed, barista-style coffee in the comfort of our own homes.
Do you own a coffee machine? What coffee machine do you own and do you think you’ll ever upgrade it? Leave a comment to let me know.
This is a collaborative post.