Why Professional Espresso Machine Is Your Next Big Obsession

How to Build a Professional Espresso Machine

This is a fantastic option for coffee shops and cafes that want to attract customers who are enthusiastic about barista and espresso. It's the official machine used for World Barista Championships, and it displays.

The barista can refill the reservoir with water throughout their shift. The machine has an hot water tap for tea and cool-touch steam wands.

Water

A commercial espresso machine needs to produce a large quantity of espresso based drinks efficiently. The machines are typically made of stainless steel, which is durable and resistant to scratches and breaks. These espresso machines are also simpler to maintain and clean.

Lastly, a good quality machine has a shut-off valve for the water line in order to prevent limescale build up. This will ensure that any repairs are limited to the affected parts of the machine and won't affect the rest of your operation.

When selecting your water ensure that you test it and treat it properly to ensure the best results. For instance the distilled water can be remineralized by adding a small amount of minerals back into it. This can diminish its anti-erosive properties as well as improve its taste, but it could also harm certain machines. The remineralized wate will make the boiler sensor think that the machine is full, even though it isn't. This could cause overheating and possibly damaging the machine.

Grinder

The grinder is a vital element for a successful espresso machine. It takes a raw, unground bean and turns it into finely ground coffee that is then tamped into the filter basket for an excellent extraction.

Professional commercial grade machines include grinders that can be programmed for various sizes of drinks. This ensures consistency in results each time. Super-automatic machines go further and automatize the entire process from brewing, to grinding and dispensing. These types of machines are able to score high marks in Lab tests due to their hands-off simplicity of use.

A semi-automatic or manual espresso machine requires more involvement from the barista, however the quality of the final result is often worth the effort. This model was awarded an award known as the Good Housekeeping Coffee Award in 2022 for its intelligent dosing system, which measures and distributes the right amount of coffee each time. It also includes a low-pressure pre-infusion system for well-balanced extraction as well as an ice cream wand that did well in our tests for producing thick, rich steaming milk.

Temperature

When it is about espresso temperature, it plays an important factor in the taste and quality of your shots. If the water isn't at its optimal temperature, it could cause a delay in extraction, and could result in the coffee being bitter.

Espresso machines that are of high-quality come with devices that allow you to maintain the proper temperature of your water. A PID monitors and regulates the temperature of water. Double boiler systems are another way to do this. This lets you use a single boiler to steam and tea and the other one to heat water to brew temperature.

Carles explains that these systems can make a difference for large corporations as well as baristas at home. They can make it much easier for novices to determine the ideal espresso shot because they are able to maintain an accurate temperature and avoid all the factors that can alter the flavor profile. It is also much easier for baristas with more experience to dial in their espressos just the way they prefer.

Pressure

The pressure an espresso maker makes use of is another element that contributes to the quality of the coffee it produces. Many espresso drinkers have noticed that their coffee tastes different based on the amount of pressure that is used, even though other factors remain constant.

In general, most commercial-grade machines utilize nine bars of pressure to brew espresso. These machines are also more likely to be steam-driven than pumps-driven. Although high-pressure machines are offered but they require a group head that is more complex to handle the increased levels of pressure.

Although you might see espresso machines that advertise 15 or even 18 bars of pressure, nine bars are generally considered the gold standard for creating consistently excellent brews. These higher-pressure machines are typically more affordable and are designed for home use.

In comparison, 9 bars of pressure is four times higher than the pressure exerted by your car tire. The greater the pressure that a professional espresso machine can put on, the better it will be at extracting flavor from the coffee beans you love. This is why it's worthwhile to invest in a top-quality machine that will give you the most effective results.

Barista Skills

A barista should be able to accept and process customer orders quickly and accurately. This is particularly crucial during busy periods at the coffee shop. Good customer service skills is also vital to establishing customer relationships and increasing business here for the shop. This includes acknowledging regular customers, working effectively to resolve issues, and remaining positive and friend even in challenging circumstances.

Baristas are often adept at multitasking as they have to take orders and operate a cash counter and communicate orders with coworkers and take phone calls all at once. This ability allows orders to be moving quickly to the customer, and gives them an enjoyable experience in the coffee shop.

It is important for a barista's knowledge to be able to make different types of drinks using an espresso machine. You can get acquainted with the different types of espresso by studying them, experimenting with them in person and watching online videos. Many baristas consider it beneficial to attend classes on the topic, which are offered by a variety of organizations.