How to Build a Professional Espresso Machine

For coffee shops and cafes looking to attract customers with passion for barista and espresso, this is an excellent choice. It's the official machine for World Barista Championships, and it shows.

The barista is able to refill the reservoir of water throughout their shift. The machine has a hot water tap for tea and cool-touch steam wands.

Water

A commercial espresso machine must be able to create a huge amount of espresso based drinks efficiently. They are typically made of stainless steel, which is strong and resistant to cracks and scratches. Stainless steel espresso machines also make it easier to keep clean and maintained.

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

Test your water and ensure it's being treated correctly. For example distilled water may be remineralized by adding a small amount of minerals back into it. It can enhance the taste and reduce its erosive characteristics, but could also cause damage to certain machines. This is because the remineralized water will cause the boiler sensor to think that the machine is full, even though it's not. This can lead to overheating and even damage to the machine.

Grinder

The grinder is a key component of an espresso machine that is successful. It takes a raw, unground bean and transforms it into finely ground coffee that can be properly put into the filter basket, resulting in an excellent extraction.

Professional espresso machines of commercial grade typically have a built-in grinder which can be programmed to grind different drink sizes, ensuring consistency in results every time. Super-automatic espresso machines take this one step further by automating and programming the entire process from brewing to grinding to dispensing. These machines are often praised by 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 final result is usually worth it. This model won an award called the Good Housekeeping Coffee Award in 2022 for its clever dosing system, which measures and dispenses the right amount of coffee each time. It also has a low-pressure pre-infusion system that allows for balanced extraction and an ice cream wand that excelled in our test for producing thick, rich steamed milk.

Temperature

When it is about espresso temperature, it plays a significant impact on the flavor and quality of your coffee. If the water isn't operating at an optimal temperature, it could slow the extraction process and cause bitter coffee.

Luckily, the best espresso machines include tools that allow you to keep your water at the right temperature. A PID monitors and regulates the temperature of water. Double boiler systems are another way to achieve this. You can use one boiler to heat steam and water for tea, and use the other for heating water to brewing temperature.

Carles states that these systems can make a big difference for large businesses and home baristas alike. They can make it easier for newbies to dial in the perfect shot of espresso because they can maintain an accurate temperature and avoid a lot of the factors that can affect the flavor profile. It's also easier for baristas who have more experience to dial in their espressos just how they prefer.

Pressure

The pressure that the espresso machine makes use of can affect the quality of coffee it produces. Many espresso drinkers have noticed that their drinks have a distinct taste differently depending on the amount pressure used, even if other factors remain constant.

In general, commercial grade machines use nine bars of pressure to make espresso. These machines tend to be pump-driven instead of steam-driven. Although higher-pressure machines are available but they require a group head that is more complicated to handle the higher levels of pressure.

While you may find espresso machines advertising 15 or even 18 bars of pressure, nine bars are generally considered to be the most reliable standard for producing consistently excellent brews. These higher-pressure machines are typically cheaper and intended to be used at home.

To put 9 bars of pressure in perspective, it's nearly four times the pressure that is exerted by the air in your car tire. The more pressure a professional espresso machine is able to apply, the better it will be at capturing the taste of the coffee beans you love. For this reason, it's worthwhile to invest in a top-quality machine that will deliver the best possible results.

Barista Skills

A barista needs to be able to take and process customer orders quickly and accurately. This is particularly crucial during busy times at the coffee shop. Excellent customer service skills are essential for building relationships with customers as well as increasing the sales of the coffee shop. This can include acknowledging regular customers, resolving issues efficiently and remaining positive and amiable in tough situations.

Baristas are often skilled at multitasking, since they have to take orders and xilubbs.xclub.tw operate a cash register and share orders with colleagues and handle phone calls at the same time. This ability allows customers to enjoy a pleasant experience in the cafe by making sure that orders are delivered promptly.

It is vital for a barista's education to be able to prepare various types of coffee using an espresso machine. This can be learned by reading about the various types of coffee, trying the drinks in person and watching videos online. Many baristas find it beneficial to take classes on the topic, which are offered by various organizations.