Why Professional Espresso Machine Is Your Next Big Obsession

How to Build a Professional Espresso Machine This is a fantastic option for cafes and coffee shops who want to attract customers who are passionate about barista and espresso. It's the official machine for World Barista Championships and it really shows. It has a water reservoir to ensure that the barista only needs to refill it once during their shift. It also has steam wands that are cool-touch and hot water taps for tea. Water A commercial espresso machine is required to create a huge amount of espresso based drinks efficiently. That's why these machines are typically built from stainless steel, which is more durable and resistant to scratches and break. Stainless steel espresso machines also make it easier to keep clean and maintained. A good machine will have a separate shut-off valve for the water line to avoid the formation of limescale. This will ensure that any repairs are confined to the affected machine components and won't impact the remainder of your operation. When choosing your water make sure you test it and treat it appropriately to ensure the best results. Remineralize distilled water by adding a few minerals. This can diminish its erosive properties and improve its flavor, but it can also damage some machines. The remineralized wate will make the boiler sensor believe that the machine is full, even though it isn't. This can cause excessive heat and damage to the machine. Grinder The grinder is a vital element of a successful espresso machine. The grinder transforms the raw, unground coffee bean into finely-ground coffee that can be tamped properly into the filter basket to ensure an outstanding extraction. Professional-grade commercial machines include grinders that can be programmed for various sizes of drinks. This ensures consistent 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 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 earned a 2022 Good Housekeeping Coffee Award for its smart dosing feature which weighs and delivers the right amount of ground coffee each time. It also comes with a low pressure pre-infusion system that allows for balanced extraction and an ice cream wand that excelled in our test for producing rich, thick steaming milk. Temperature Temperature is a key factor in espresso. If the water isn't operating at an ideal temperature, it may cause a delay in extraction, and could lead to the coffee being bitter. High-end espresso machines have devices that allow you to maintain the correct temperature of your water. A PID monitors and regulates temperature of the water. Double boiler systems are another method to do this. You can use one boiler to heat water and steam for tea, while using the second to heat water to brewing temperature. Carles explains how these systems can make a difference for both large-scale businesses as well as baristas at home. They can assist novices dial in the perfect espresso drink because they can maintain an exact temperature and eliminate several variables that can affect the flavor of the flavor. It is also much easier for baristas with more experience to get their espressos just the way they want. Pressure The pressure an espresso machine uses can affect the quality of coffee it makes. Many espresso drinkers have noticed that their coffee tastes different depending on the pressure used, despite the fact that all other elements remain the same. The majority of commercial machines utilize 9 bars of pressure in order to make espresso. These machines are also likely to be driven by pumps rather than steam-driven. Although higher-pressure machines are available but they require a group head that is more complicated to handle the increased levels of pressure. While some espresso machines advertise 15 or 18 bars of pressure in 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 to be used at home. To put 9 bars of pressure in perspective, it's four times the amount of pressure that's imposed by the air inside your car tire. The greater the pressure that a professional espresso machine can exert to the coffee, the better it will be at extracting flavor from your favorite coffee beans. It is worth investing in top-quality machines that produce the most effective results. Barista Skills A barista should be able to take and process customer orders quickly and efficiently. This is especially important in busy times at the coffee shop. Having good customer service skills is also essential for building relationships with customers and increasing sales for the shop. This includes recognizing regular customers, resolving problems efficiently, and remaining positive and friendly even in challenging situations. The ability to multitask is often required for baristas, since they may be required to take orders and operate the cash counter, communicate orders to coworkers and answer phone calls at the same time. This skill allows the customer to enjoy an enjoyable experience at the coffee shop by ensuring that orders get delivered promptly. It is beneficial for baristas to be aware of the different styles of drinks that can be made by an espresso machine. Learn about the various kinds of espresso by studying them, experimenting with them in person, or watching online videos. Many baristas find it helpful to attend classes provided by various organizations.