8 Tips To Up Your Professional Espresso Machine Game

How to Build a Professional Espresso Machine

For coffee shops and cafes seeking to attract customers with an interest in espresso and barista abilities, This is a great option. It's the official machine for World Barista Championships and it truly shows.

It is equipped with a reservoir of water to ensure that the barista only requires refilling it throughout their shift. The machine also has steam wands that cool-touch as well as a hot water tap for tea.

Water

A commercial espresso machine must be able to make a large amount of espresso-based drinks efficiently. The machines are typically made of stainless steel, which is durable and resistant against cracks and scratches. These electric espresso maker machines are also easier to maintain and clean.

Additionally, a top quality machine will have a separate shut off valve for the water line, to prevent limescale build up. This will ensure any repairs are restricted to the affected parts of the machine espresso and not impact the rest your operation.

When you select your water ensure that you test it and treat it appropriately to ensure the best results. For example the distilled water can be recycled by adding a small amount of minerals back into it. It can improve the taste and lessen its erosive characteristics, but could also cause damage to certain machines. This is because the remineralized water can cause the boiler sensor to believe that the machine is fully stocked, but it's not. This can lead to overheating and damage the machine.

Grinder

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

Commercial-grade espresso machines usually have a built-in grinding unit that can be programmed to grind for different drink sizes, ensuring that the results are consistent every time. Super-automatic espresso machines take this one step further, by automating and programmable the whole process from brewing to grinding to dispensing. These machines are often praised during Lab tests for being easy to 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 won an award called the Good Housekeeping Coffee Award in 2022 for its clever dosing mechanism that measures and dispensing the correct amount of coffee every time. It also comes with an low-pressure pre-infusion system for balanced extraction, and a milk frother that produced rich, thick steamed-milk during our tests.

Temperature

When it comes to espresso, temperature plays a major role in the taste and quality of your espresso. If the water isn't in its ideal temperature, it can cause a delay in extraction, and could lead to the coffee being bitter.

Espresso machines of the highest quality come with tools that help you maintain the right temperature of your water. A PID monitors and regulates the temperature of the water. The other way is by utilizing a double boiler system. This lets you use a single boiler to tea and steam, while the other heats water to the right temperature for brewing.

Carles says that these types of systems can make the difference for large corporations and home baristas alike. They can assist novices create the perfect espresso drink because they can maintain a precise temperature and avoid various variables that can alter the flavor quality. It's also much easier for baristas with more experience to dial in their espressos just the way they want.

Pressure

The pressure that an espresso machine uses can also impact the quality of coffee it makes. Many espresso drinkers have noticed that their drinks taste different based on the amount of pressure used, even if all other elements remain the same.

The majority of commercial machines utilize 9 bars of pressure to brew espresso. These machines are also more likely to be steam-driven rather than pumps driven. While higher-pressure machines are readily available, they require a group head that is more sophisticated to handle the increased levels of pressure.

While you may see espresso machines advertising 15 or even 18 bars of pressure, nine bars is generally considered to be the gold standard for creating consistently excellent brews. These machines with higher pressure tend to be cheaper and designed for home use.

To put 9 bar of pressure into perspective, it's four times the pressure which is emitted by the air inside your car tire. The more pressure that a professional espresso maker can apply, then the more effective it is in bringing out the flavor of your favorite coffee beans. For this reason, it's worthwhile to invest in a top-quality machine that can deliver the best results.

Barista Skills

A barista must be able to take orders and process them quickly and precisely. This is particularly important during busy times at the coffee shop. Being able to provide excellent customer service is also crucial for establishing customer relationships and increasing sales for the shop. This includes acknowledging regular customers, resolving issues efficiently and remaining optimistic and amiable in tough situations.

Baristas often need to be able to multitask, as they have to take orders and operate a cash register and communicate orders with coworkers, and answer telephone calls at the same time. This skill allows them to keep orders moving quickly to the customer, and will allow them to have an enjoyable experience at the coffee shop.

It is helpful for a barista to have knowledge of the various types of drinks that can be prepared with an espresso machine. You can find out about the various kinds of espresso machine with milk frother by reading about the various types, trying them in person, and watching online videos. Many baristas find it beneficial to take classes offered by various organizations.