an espresso machine provided with a rotating ceramic disk valve as a selective water - steam distributor that is in a driving connection with a drive motor , and a control device for controlling the drive motor . to increase the precision of the rotational - angle setting , a geneva gear is incorporated into the driving connection between the drive motor and the rotating ceramic disk valve , with the gear setting the rotating ceramic disk valve in make - and - break cycles . the control device shuts off the drive motor after at least one make - and - break cycle of the geneva gear .