Everything You Need To Know About Professional Espresso Machine Dos And Don'ts

How to Build a Professional Espresso Machine

For coffee shops and cafes seeking to attract customers with a love of espresso and barista abilities, this is a great choice. It's the official machine for World Barista Championships, and it displays.

It also has a reservoir for water so that the barista just needs to refill it throughout their shift. The machine has an hot water tap for tea and cool-touch steam wands.

Water

A commercial espresso machine needs to create a huge amount of espresso-based drinks efficiently. This is why these machines are usually constructed of stainless steel which is more durable and resistant to breakage and scratches. These espresso machines are also easier to maintain and clean.

A high-quality machine should have an independent shut-off valve for the water pipe to prevent limescale build-up. This will ensure that any repairs will be isolated to the affected components of the machine and won't impact the rest of your operation.

Check your water and ensure it is treated properly. For instance, distilled water can be restored by adding a tiny amount of minerals back into it. This can diminish its anti-erosive properties as well as improve its flavor, but it can also damage some machines. The remineralized water will make the boiler sensor believe that the machine is full even though it's not. This can cause the machine to overheat and become damaged.

Grinder

The grinder is an essential element of a successful espresso maker. It is a process that takes a raw, unground bean and transforms it into finely ground coffee that is then put into the filter basket to create an excellent extraction.

Professional commercial machines come with a grinder that can be programmed to work with different sizes of drink. This ensures consistency in results each time. Super-automatic espresso machines go one step further, automating and programmable the whole process from brewing to grinding to dispensing. These machines are often praised during Lab tests for their ease to use.

A semi-automatic or manual espresso machine requires more involvement from the barista, but the quality of the end result is usually worth it. This model won an award called the Good Housekeeping Coffee Award in 2022 for its smart dosing mechanism that measures and dispensing the correct amount of coffee each time. It also includes a low-pressure pre-infusion mechanism for smooth extraction and the milk frothing tool that did well in our tests for producing thick, rich steamed milk.

Temperature

When it is time to make espresso, temperature plays a major influence on the taste and quality of your espresso. If the water isn't in its optimal temperature, it can hinder extraction and even lead to the coffee being bitter.

Fortunately, top-quality espresso machines have tools that allow you to keep your water at the correct temperature. One method to achieve this is by utilizing PIDs, which monitors and adjusts the temperature of the water. Double boiler systems are another method to achieve this. You can use one boiler to heat steam and water for tea, and use another to heat the water to brewing temperature.

Carles mentions that these systems can make a big difference for large businesses and baristas at home alike. They make it easier for beginners to dial in the perfect espresso drink because they are able to maintain an exact temperature and eliminate a lot of the factors that can affect the flavor profile. It is also easier for baristas who have more experience to dial in their espressos exactly how they would like.

Pressure

The amount of pressure an espresso machine makes use of is another element that influences the quality of the coffee it makes. Many espresso drinkers have noticed that their drinks taste different based on the amount of pressure used, despite the fact that all other factors are constant.

In general, commercial-grade machines use nine bars of pressure to create espresso. These machines are also more likely to be steam driven than pumps driven. Although higher-pressure machines are available however, they typically require a more complicated group head design that can manage the higher pressure levels.

While some espresso machines advertise 15 or 18 bars of pressure on their machines, nine bars are generally considered to be the standard for making consistently excellent espressos. espresso coffee machine that are higher pressure are generally less expensive and are intended for home use.

In comparison, 9 bar of pressure is 4 times more than the pressure applied by your car tire. The greater pressure a professional espresso machine can put on, the better it will be at removing the flavor from the coffee beans you love. It's worth investing in high-quality machines that can produce the best results.

Barista Skills

A barista must be able to take and process customer orders quickly and efficiently. This is particularly crucial during busy times in the coffee shop. Having good customer service skills is essential to build customer relationships and increasing sales for the shop. This can include recognizing regular customers, working efficiently to resolve issues, and being positive and helpful even in difficult situations.

Baristas typically need to be skilled at multitasking, since they must take orders, operate a cash register and share orders with colleagues, and answer telephone calls all at once. This skill helps keep orders moving quickly to the customer and allows them to have a pleasant experience in the coffee shop.

It is crucial for baristas in order to make different types of drinks using an espresso machine. This can be accomplished by researching the different kinds of coffee, testing the drinks in person and watching videos online. Baristas often find it beneficial to attend classes on the matter, offered by a variety of organizations.