How to Build a Professional Espresso Machine

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

The barista can refill the water reservoir throughout their shift. The machine also has steam wands that are cool-touch and hot water taps for tea.

Water

A commercial espresso machine needs to be able of producing a huge amount of espresso-based drinks with efficiency. That's why these machines are generally constructed from stainless steel, which is more durable and resistant to scratches and breaks. These espresso machines are simpler to maintain and clean.

A top-quality machine should include an additional shut-off valve that is connected to the water pipe, to prevent limescale accumulation. This will ensure that any repairs are limited to affected parts of the machine and won't impact the rest your operation.

Test your water to ensure it is treated properly. For example distilled water may be restored by adding a tiny amount of minerals back into it. This can reduce its erosion properties and improve the taste, but it could also cause damage to certain machines. Remineralized wate makes the boiler sensor believe that the machine is full and it isn't. This could cause excessive heat and damage to the machine.

Grinder

The grinder is an essential part of a successful espresso maker. The grinder turns the raw, unground coffee bean into a finely -ground coffee that can be properly tamped into the filter basket to ensure the best extraction.

Commercial-grade espresso machines usually come with a built-in grinder that can be programmed to grind for different drink sizes, ensuring consistency in results every time. Super-automatic espresso machines take this one step further, implementing automation and programmable the entire process from brewing to grinding to dispensing. These machines are often praised by Lab tests for being easy to use.

A manual or semi-automatic espresso machine requires more involvement from the barista, however the quality of the final result is usually worth it. This model was awarded an 2022 Good Housekeeping Coffee Award for its dosing technology that weighs and distributes the correct amount of ground coffee every time. It also comes with a low-pressure pre-infusion system to ensure an even extraction, as well as the milk frothing tool that excelled in our test for producing rich, thick steaming milk.

Temperature

When it is time to make espresso temperature, it plays a significant role in the taste and quality of your shots. If the water isn't at an optimal temperature, it can hinder extraction and even result in the coffee being bitter.

High-quality espresso machines come with devices that allow you to maintain the correct temperature of your water. A PID monitors and regulates temperature of the water. The other way is by using a double boiler. This lets you use a single boiler to steam and tea, while the other heats water to brewing temperatures.

Carles explains that these systems can be beneficial for large companies as well as baristas at home. They make it easier for beginners to dial in the perfect espresso since they can keep an accurate temperature and avoid all the variables that can throw off the flavor profile. It's also simpler for baristas with more experience to dial in their espressos just the way they prefer.

Pressure

The pressure that an espresso machine employs is another factor that affects the quality of the coffee it makes. Many espresso drinkers have noticed that their drinks taste different based on the amount of pressure used, even when all other factors remain the same.

In general, commercial-grade machines utilize nine bars of pressure to brew espresso. These machines tend to be driven by pumps rather than steam-driven. Although higher-pressure machines are available however they require a group head that is more intricate to handle the higher levels of pressure.

While some travel espresso maker machines advertise 15 or 18 bars of pressure in their machines Nine bars are generally considered to be the standard for making consistently excellent espressos. The higher-pressure machines tend to be less expensive and designed for home use.

To put 9 bar of pressure in perspective, it's more than four times the amount that's exerted by the air in your car tire. The greater the pressure an espresso maker with professional quality can apply, the better it is at extracting flavor out of your favorite coffee beans. This is why it's worth investing in a premium machine that can deliver the best results.

Barista Skills

A barista must be able to take orders and handle them quickly and precisely. This is particularly important in busy times at the coffee shop. Effective customer service skills are crucial for establishing relationships with customers and boosting sales for the coffee shop. This includes acknowledging regular customers, working effectively to resolve problems and remaining positive and friend even in difficult situations.

Baristas are often adept at multitasking as they are expected to take orders as well as operate a cash register, 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 ensures that customers have an enjoyable experience in the coffee shop.

It is essential for a barista's education to be able to prepare different drinks with an espresso machine. This can be accomplished by researching the different types of coffee, trying them out in person and watching videos on the internet. Baristas often consider it beneficial to attend classes on the matter, offered by several organizations.