Brewing group solenoid valve

Most of the modern espresso machine brewing groups use a solenoid valve. There are indeed also lever operated espresso machines which don’t use a solenoid valve but a system of spring and valves.

The type of solenoid valve used for this application is a 3 way valve which is NO(Normally Open). This means that when the brewing process is not active the solenoid valve coil is not energized. When the brewing process starts the coil get’s energized and the valve closes. Once the process it done coil get’s turned off opening the valve. This is NO valve seen the solenoid valve is most of the time open.

The 3 way solenoid valves are made by 4 companies. These companies are ODE, Olab and Lucifer/Parker. On the top/bottom of the solenoid valve is a male 1/8”thread, on this thread a discharge tube can be installed.