A Step-By Step Guide For Choosing The Right Professional Espresso Machine

How to Build a Professional Espresso Machine

For coffee shops and cafes looking to attract customers with an interest in barista and espresso skills, this is a great option. It's the official machine for World Barista Championships, and it displays.

It also has a reservoir for water so that the barista only requires refilling it throughout their shift. The machine is equipped with hot water for tea and cool-touch steam wands.

Water

A commercial espresso machine has to be able to create a large volume of espresso-based drinks effectively. machines espresso machines are typically made of stainless steel, which is durable and resistant to breaks and scratches. Espresso machines made of stainless steel make it easier to keep clean and maintained.

Additionally, a top quality machine will have a separate shut-off valve for the water line to avoid the formation of limescale. This will ensure that any repairs will be isolated to the specific machine components and won't impact the remainder of your operation.

Check your water to ensure that it has been treated properly. For example distillate water can be recycled by adding a small amount of minerals back to it. This can diminish its erosive properties and improve its taste, however it could also cause damage to certain machines. The remineralized wate will make the boiler sensor believe that the machine is full and it isn't. This could cause the machine to overheat, and eventually be damaged.

Grinder

The grinder is a crucial component of an espresso machine that works. The grinder transforms the unground, raw coffee bean into finely-ground coffee that can be properly tamped into the filter basket to ensure an outstanding extraction.

Commercial-grade professional espresso machines usually have a built-in grinder which can be programmed to grind for different sizes of drinks, ensuring consistency in results every time. Super-automatic espresso machines take this one step further by automating and programmable the entire process from brewing to dispensing. These kinds of machines usually get high scores in Lab tests due to their hands-free user-friendliness.

A semi-automatic or manual espresso machine requires more involvement from the barista, however the quality of the final product is often worth it. This model was awarded an award known as the Good Housekeeping Coffee Award in 2022 for its clever dosing mechanism that measures and delivers the correct amount of coffee each time. It also features the ability to use a low pressure pre-infusion to ensure balanced extraction, and an milk frother that created rich, thick steamed-milk during our tests.

Temperature

Temperature is a major element in espresso. If the water isn't at an optimal temperature, it can hinder extraction and even result in an unpleasant cup of coffee.

Espresso machines of the highest quality come with tools that can help you keep the proper temperature of your water. A PID monitors and regulates temperature of water. Double boiler systems are a different way to accomplish this. This allows you to utilize one boiler for steam and tea and the other for heating water to brew temperature.

Carles states that these types of systems can make a big difference for large companies and home baristas alike. They can make it simpler for newbies to determine the ideal shot of espresso because they maintain an accurate temperature and avoid many of the factors that can alter the flavor profile. It is also easier for baristas who have more experience to get their espressos exactly how they want.

Pressure

The pressure an espresso machine utilizes can affect the quality of the coffee it produces. Many espresso drinkers have noticed that their drinks taste different based on the amount of pressure used, even when all other elements remain the same.

Most commercial machines use 9 bars of pressure in order to brew espresso. These machines also tend to be pump-driven, not steam-driven. Although there are machines with higher pressures however, they typically require a more complicated group head design to handle the increased pressure levels.

Although you might see espresso machines advertising 15 or even 18 bars of pressure, nine bars is generally considered the gold standard for creating consistently excellent brews. These higher-pressure machines are typically less expensive and are intended for use at home.

In comparison, 9 bars of pressure is 4 times more than the pressure applied by your car tire. The greater pressure a professional espresso machine is able to apply more pressure, the better it'll be at removing the flavor from the coffee beans you love. It is worth investing in top-quality machines that will give you the best results.

Barista Skills

A barista should be able take and process orders quickly and precisely. This is particularly important in busy times at the coffee shop. Excellent customer service skills are also important for building relationships with customers and boosting the sales of the coffee shop. This includes recognizing frequent customers, working effectively to resolve problems and staying positive and friendly even in challenging circumstances.

Baristas typically need to be capable of multitasking, as they have to take orders as well as operate a cash register, communicate orders with coworkers and respond to phone calls at the same time. This skill helps keep orders moving quickly to the customer and will allow them to have a pleasant experience in the coffee shop.

It is helpful for a barista to have knowledge of the various kinds of drinks that can be made with an espresso machine. You can get acquainted with the various kinds of espresso by studying them, experimenting with them in person, or watching online videos. Many baristas also find it beneficial to take classes on the topic, which are offered by many organizations.