The equipment you use in the daily operation of your coffee business is an integral part of your trade. Understanding how all the parts work together is as important as knowing how to use them.
The main parts of an espresso machine include the group (or group head), portafilter, portafilter basket, group gasket, group screen, dispense switch or keypad, pressure gauge, sight glass, steam wand, steam tip, hot water tap and power switch. Espresso grinders include parts like the hopper, burrs, adjustment ring or knob and doser.
Whether you’re brand new to espresso or brushing up on equipment terminology, this guide breaks down every major part of your espresso machine — and your grinder too. From portafilters to pressure gauges, you’ll get familiar with the terms every barista and technician should know.
Espresso Machine Parts at a Glance
| Part | What it does | When to replace or check |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Holds the portafilter and delivers water through the coffee | Check if water flow is uneven |
| Portafilter | Holds the basket and coffee during brewing | Replace if worn, damaged, or leaking |
| Group gasket | Seals the portafilter to the group | Replace if the portafilter leaks |
| Group screen | Distributes water over the coffee bed | Clean often, replace when clogged or worn |
| Steam wand | Steams and textures milk | Check if steam flow is weak |
| Pressure gauge | Shows boiler and pump pressure | Check when pressure reads unusually high or low |
| Burrs | Grind coffee to the selected size | Replace when shots become inconsistent |
Jump to a section:
- Group head
- Portafilter
- Portafilter filter spring
- Portafilter basket
- Group gasket
- Group screen
- Group dispense switch
- Group dosing keypad
- Hot water tap
- Power switch
- Pressure gauge
- Sight glass
- Steam wand
- Steam tip
- Adjustment ring or knob
- Bean hopper
- Doser
- Burrs
MAIN ESPRESSO MACHINE PARTS
What is a Group Head on an Espresso Machine?
This is where all the magic takes place. Sometimes referred to as the brew group or brew head, this component is more commonly known simply as the group. This is where you insert the portafilter when preparing to brew espresso.
Shop Espresso Machine Group Heads
What Does a Portafilter Do?
This is the device coffee is ground into before being placed in the group to brew espresso. The name is easy to remember as long as you think of it as a portable filter (hence, portafilter). It's also known as "a filter handle and that thingy you put the coffee into".
Portafilters come in a few different styles, including single spout, double spout and bottomless. Spouted portafilters split espresso into one or two cups, making them a practical choice for daily service. Bottomless portafilters expose the basket so you can see how the espresso extracts, which makes them especially helpful for training, dialing in and spotting channeling.Shop Espresso Machine Portafilters
What's a Portafilter Spring?
The springs hold the baskets in place. It is held in the portafilter by clipping in to a groove that is milled into the inner surface of the portafilter body. Some are round in profile and circumference, but most are bent into a hexagonal shape with one open end.
What Does a Portafilter Basket Do?
The portafilter basket is the filter screen located in the portafilter. These come in both double and single sizes and are held in place by a spring. Learn how to change a portafilter basket!
Shop Espresso Machine Portafilter Baskets
What is a Group Gasket? and Why Does it leak?
The group gasket is a large rubber O-ring that seals the portafilter and portafilter basket to the group. It is inserted into a groove that is built into the group. If the portafilter is leaking, the group gasket is usually the part you need to replace. Often the portafilter basket and group gasket should be changed together for the best coffee. Need to know how to replace espresso machine group gasket?
What is a Group Screen or Shower Screen?
The group screen is also located in the group. It is sometimes referred to as a dispersion screen, shower screen, or shower. Need help changing the group screen? We've got you covered!
What does a Group Dispense Switch Do?
This switch acts much the same as the dosing keypads, but it is usually a simple on/off switch located over the top of the group it actuates. Some automatic espresso machines also include a dispense button as an additional means of operation.
Shop Espresso Machine Switches
What's the Purpose of a Group Dosing Keypad?
Dosing keypads are found on automatic and superautomatic espresso machines. They are the buttons you press to activate the group head on the machine. The keypads show a legend of various dispense times and quantities as well as programming and continuous flow.
What's the Hot Water Tap on an Espresso Machine?
Some call this the Americano wand or tap, but it's simply a hot water tap. Call it what you will--this is where you dispense hot water.
Shop Hot Water Taps (and Steam Wands)
Where's the Power Switch on an Espresso Machine?
The power switch on most espresso equipment is located on the backsplash of the machine. It is often indicated by a face plate showing the numbers 1 - 0 - 2. The general position for full operation is the 2 position.
What Does an Espresso Machine Pressure Gauge Tell You?
The pressure gauge is located on the front of the machine. It usually has two needles indicating both boiler pressure and pump operating pressure. This is an important part to be aware of, as it monitors the health of your machine as well as the parameters of your espresso brewing temperatures and pressures.
What's the Sight Glass on a Commercial Espresso Machine?
Most commercial espresso machines have a sight glass. This part is located on the front of the machine and indicates the boiler's water level. It is typically a glass tube with water inside. It is marked with "Maximum" and "Minimum" indicators.
Shop Espresso Machine Sight Glasses
What Does the Steam Wand Do on an Espresso Machine?
This is the tool used to steam milk. The steam wand is also known as a steam pipe, and it is activated by the steam valve knob or lever.
Shop Espresso Machine Steam Wands
What About the Steam Want Tip
The steam tip is located on the end of the steam wand. It disperses the steam from the wand into a splayed pattern, allowing you to steam milk. The steam wand tip has varying numbers of whole at the end.
Shop Espresso Machine Steam Wand Tips
Learn more about how espresso machines operate and what parts are most important on our inside an espresso machine tutorial.
COMMERCIAL GRINDER PARTS
Commercial grinders have fewer visible parts than espresso machines, but each one plays a big role in daily consistency. The hopper, burrs, adjustment system, and dosing setup all affect how coffee moves through the grinder and how accurately it lands in the portafilter. Knowing these parts makes it easier to dial in, maintain your grinder and catch issues before they start throwing off your shots.
What's an Adjustment Ring (Adjustment Knob) on a Commercial Grinder?
This grinder component allows you to make changes to the grind size with reference to coarse or fine. The adjustment ring or knob is usually found around the bean hopper.
Shop Coffee Grinder Adjustment Rings and Knobs
What's the Point of a Bean Hopper?
This is the large, clear, and typically plastic container on top of the grinder. There are available glass options as well. The hopper stores your espresso beans and feeds them into the grinder burrs. When choosing an espresso machine for your cafe, make sure the grinder AND its hopper will fit under any overhead cabinets you may have.
What is a Doser and Do I Need One?
A doser is the chamber on a grinder that holds ground coffee before it is dispensed into the portafilter. They were common on older commercial grinders, but most modern cafes now prefer doserless grinders for fresher coffee, less waste, and easier recipe adjustments.
Coffee Grinder Burrs
Espresso Grinder Burrs are two round circular pieces that sit parallel to each other. One piece of the two rotates while the coffee is fed through the machine. The coffee beans are crushed between the two to your ideal size for brewing.
There are two main types of grinder burrs: flat burrs and conical burrs. Both are designed to create a consistent grind, but they work a little differently. Flat burrs use two parallel cutting surfaces and are often valued for grind uniformity, clarity and precise adjustment. Conical burrs use a cone-shaped inner burr and outer ring, and are often valued for efficiency, lower heat buildup and a slightly different cup profile.
The best choice depends on the grinder, workflow and coffee style, not one burr type being better across the board. Whichever style you use, burrs will dull with regular use, so routine cleaning and replacement are important for consistent shots.
Knowing the names of your espresso machine and grinder parts makes the whole setup feel a lot less mysterious. It helps you understand what’s happening behind the bar, spot small issues before they turn into bigger ones, and explain what you need when it’s time to order a replacement part or talk with a tech.
You do not need to memorize every term overnight. Start with the parts you use, clean, and replace most often. The more you work with your equipment, the more natural the language becomes. And when something starts leaking, sticking, clogging, or sounding a little off, you’ll be better prepared to describe the problem and get the right fix faster.
Now that you know all the main parts, time to purchase that new espresso machine here!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
What are the main parts of an espresso machine?
The main parts of an espresso machine include the group head, portafilter, basket, group gasket, group screen, pressure gauge, steam wand, steam tip, hot water tap, and power switch.
What part of an espresso machine usually causes leaking around the portafilter?
A worn group gasket is the most common reason a portafilter leaks around the group head.
What is the difference between a group screen and a group gasket?
The group screen helps distribute water over the coffee bed. The group gasket seals the portafilter to the group head.
What parts of an espresso grinder should I know?
The main grinder parts are the hopper, burrs, adjustment ring or knob and doser.
When should grinder burrs be replaced?
Burrs should be replaced when grind quality becomes inconsistent, shot times drift, or the grinder produces more fines than usual.
Updated June 2026
