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Flowmeter
Small turbine sensor that counts water passing through it in pulses — used by volumetric machines to dose shots by volume rather than time.
Category: Water System
An electronic device that measures water volume passing through a pipe. Used on programmable espresso machines (especially commercial multi-group) to dose shots by volume rather than time.
Why it matters — Flowmeters enable volumetric dosing — the machine measures the amount of water and stops the shot automatically. This is how most commercial machines deliver consistent shots without barista intervention.
Good to know
- Two main types: turbine (a small rotating wheel counts pulses) and gear (precision-machined gears measure displacement).
- Flowmeter failure causes shots to vary in volume or fail to stop. Replacement is straightforward once diagnosed.