When a pic is taken, the one who takes it intends to perpetuate a moment through time. That moment is made up of an image that can awaken various feelings in the person who took it as well as in those who can enjoy the image.
Today I want to share with you a hobby that I have related to the world of coffee. I feel an extreme fascination for the utensils to elaborate coffee, especially espresso machines.
Every time I visit a coffee shop, big or small, I try to take pictures of their espresso machine.
Why this fetish with espresso machines? I think it's because their design tacitly tells the story of the evolution of these wonderful artifacts.
Taking photographs of espresso machines allows me to compare different models and brands, as well as to investigate how they work. I think that these are details that make the experience of enjoying a cup of coffee go far beyond what our senses can enjoy.
This is a pic of the back of a Rancilio coffee maker with a copper structure. It is one of my favorite photos, as you can appreciate the shiny and impeccable copper sheet with its carvings that give texture to the surface. This type of coffee machine is from the 1980s with a vintage design reminiscent of the Belle Epoque. This espresso machine contrasts with the place where it is located since it is in the coffee shop of a modern design hotel.
This is another coffee machine that I liked when I saw it in the coffee shop I visited. It is a three-group machine. It is a more modern design, but it is also from the 1980s. It is semi-automatic, and its manufacturing house is Nuova Simonelli. This is an Italian coffee machine brand that has been around since 1936. I love having this coffee machine among my favorite pics as it breaks the pattern of only getting Rancilio or Famesa brand espresso machines.
This pic makes me see the contrast between manual espresso machines and those with a digital board for filtering. It is a model that requires the operator to manually emulsify the milk. The chrome plating on this coffee machine is sturdy but mind-blowing. One detail I always notice when I visit a coffee shop is how clean their espresso machine is. This indicates to me that they take care of the details, and they may do it every time they serve a coffee.
If you have been able to appreciate the sequence of the photos I have shared, you can see that I started with those larger, classic espresso machines up to the compact-sized ones. It's amazing how technology has come up with designs that are easy to move around.
However, my love for photographing espresso machines is not limited to coffee shops. Sometimes I visit appliance stores and portray these wonders. It's a way to confirm that with a good espresso machine for home use, you can play at being a barista when you prepare the coffee yourself. I love this Hamilton Beach model because it has the grinder integrated into the filtering machine. It's all-in-one and doesn't take up much space on the kitchen counter.
This last model is very nice. It is a small model, but it has a built-in pressure gauge to check the water pressure while filtering the coffee, and it has a nozzle to emulsify the milk. It is an ideal coffee maker for a single coffee lover or for a couple in love that likes to drink coffee in a single cup for both of them.
The world of coffee is fascinating. There are always curious things to share. For now, I will continue to take pics of espresso machines to expand my collection.
All images are property of the author
(Camera cell phone: POCO X3 Pro, Xiaomi)
The author's original text in Spanish was translated into English using DeepL
