How to Build a Professional Espresso Machine

For coffee shops and cafes looking to attract customers who have a passion for espresso and barista abilities, this is a great option. It's the official machine for World Barista Championships and it truly shows.

It also has a reservoir for water to ensure that the barista only needs to refill it throughout their shift. It also has steam wands that are cool-touch and hot water taps for tea.

Water

A commercial espresso machine must be able to create a large volume of espresso-based drinks in a timely manner. That's why these machines are built with stainless steel, which is more robust and resistant to breakage and scratches. espresso makers machines made of stainless steel make it easier to maintain and clean.

Lastly, a good quality machine will have a separate shut-off valve for the water line to prevent the build-up of limescale. This will ensure that any repairs will be isolated to the affected machine components and won't affect the rest of your operation.

When you select your water, make sure to test it thoroughly and treat it in a way to ensure the best espresso machine results. For example distillate water can be remineralized by adding a small amount of minerals back into it. This could reduce its erosion properties and improve its taste, however it may also damage machines. The remineralized wate will make the boiler sensor think the machine is full even though it's not. This could cause the machine to overheat and be damaged.

Grinder

The grinder is a vital component of an espresso machine that works. It grinds a raw bean and turns it into a finely ground coffee that can be put into the filter basket, resulting in an excellent extraction.

Commercial-grade professional espresso machines usually include a built-in grinder that can be programmed to grind various sizes of drinks, which ensures consistent results each time. Super-automatic espresso machines go one step further by automating and programmable the entire process from brewing to grinding to dispensing. These machines are frequently praised in Lab tests for being easy to use.

A semi-automatic or manual espresso machine requires more involvement from the barista but the quality of the end result is often worth the effort. This model won a Good Housekeeping Coffee Award in 2022 for its smart dosing system, which measures and distributes the right amount of coffee every time. It also comes with a low-pressure pre-infusion system to ensure smooth extraction and the milk frothing tool that did well in our tests for producing rich, thick steamed milk.

Temperature

When it comes to espresso temperature, it plays an important impact on the flavor and quality of your espresso. If the temperature of the water is not at the right degree, it can cause extraction to be impeded and can even lead to bitter coffee.

Luckily, the best espresso machines include tools that allow you to ensure that your water is at the correct temperature. One method for doing this is to use a PID, which monitors and adjusts the temperature of the water. Another method is using a double boiler system. You can use one boiler to heat steam and water for tea, and use the second to heat the water to brewing temperature.

Carles points out that these systems can make the difference for large businesses and home baristas alike. They can help novices create the perfect espresso because they can maintain a precise temperature and avoid many variables that can affect the flavor profile. It's also simpler for baristas with more experience to get their shots just the way they want.

Pressure

The pressure an espresso machine makes use of is another element which affects the quality of the coffee it produces. Many espresso drinkers have observed that their drinks taste differently depending on the amount pressure used, despite the fact that all other elements remain the same.

Most commercial machines use 9 bars of pressure in order to brew espresso. These machines are also more likely to be steam-driven instead of pumps-driven. Although there are machines with higher pressures they generally require a more sophisticated group head design that can handle the increased pressure levels.

While some espresso machines advertise 15 or 18 bars of pressure on their machines Nine bars are generally considered to be the gold standard when it comes to making consistently excellent espressos. These machines with higher pressures are generally cheaper and intended for use at home.

To put 9 bars of pressure in perspective, it's over four times the pressure that's exerted by the air inside your car tire. The more pressure an experienced espresso machine can exert to the coffee, the better it will be at extracting flavor from the coffee beans you love. It's worth investing in high-quality machines that can produce the highest quality results.

Barista Skills

A barista needs to be able to accept and process customer orders quickly and efficiently. This is particularly important in busy times at the coffee shop. Having good customer service skills is also vital to establishing customer relationships and increasing business for the shop. This includes recognizing frequent customers, working efficiently to resolve problems and staying positive and friendly even in the most difficult of situations.

The ability to multitask is usually required for a barista as they could be required to take orders and operate the cash register and communicate orders to colleagues and handle phone calls at the same time. This ability allows customers to enjoy an enjoyable experience at the coffee shop by making sure that orders are delivered quickly.

It is essential that a barista's skills are developed to be able to make different drinks with an espresso machine. You can find out about the various kinds of espresso by reading about their characteristics, tasting them in person, and watching online videos. Baristas often find it beneficial to attend classes on the topic, which are offered by a variety of organizations.