Five Professional Espresso Machine Lessons From The Pros

How to Build a Professional Espresso Machine

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

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

Water

A commercial espresso machines uk machine should be able to create large quantities of espresso-based drinks with efficiency. They are usually constructed of stainless steel, which is durable and resistant against breakages and scratches. These espresso machines are also easier to maintain and clean.

A high-quality machine should have an additional shut-off valve that is connected to the water pipe to avoid the build-up of limescale. This will ensure that any repairs will be isolated to the specific machine components and won't impact the rest of your operation.

When selecting your water be sure to test it thoroughly and treat it in a way to get the Best espresso machine results. For instance distillate water can be recycled by adding a small amount of minerals back into it. It can improve the taste and negate its erosive qualities, but could also cause damage to certain machines. This is because the remineralized fluid will cause the boiler sensor to think that the machine is full, even though it's not. This could cause overheating and damage the machine.

Grinder

The grinder is a vital element in the success of an cafe espresso machine machine. It takes a raw, unground bean and turns it into a finely ground coffee that can be properly placed into the filter basket to produce an excellent extraction.

Commercial-grade professional espresso machines typically come with a built-in grinder that can be programmed to grind various drink sizes, ensuring consistency in results every time. Super-automatic espresso machines go one step further, by automating and programmable the whole process from brewing to dispensing. These kinds of machines tend to earn high scores in Lab tests due to their hands-off simplicity of use.

A manual or semi-automatic espresso machine requires more involvement from the barista, however the quality of the final result is often worth the effort. This model was awarded a Good Housekeeping Coffee Award in 2022 due to its sophisticated dosing system that is able to measure and delivers the correct amount of coffee every time. It also has a low-pressure pre-infusion system for balanced extraction and an ice cream wand that excelled in our test for producing rich, thick steamed milk.

Temperature

When it is about pro espresso machine temperature plays a huge role in the taste and quality of your espresso. If the water isn't at its optimal temperature, it can slow the extraction process and result in bitter coffee.

Luckily, the best espresso machines come with tools that enable you to keep your water at the correct temperature. One way to do this is by using PIDs, which monitors and adjusts the temperature of the water. Another method is using a double boiler. One boiler can be used to heat water and steam for tea, while using the other for heating water to brewing temperature.

Carles mentions that these systems can make the difference for large-scale businesses and home baristas alike. They can make it easier for beginners to determine the ideal shot of espresso because they can maintain an exact temperature and eliminate all the factors that can alter the flavor profile. It is also simpler for baristas with more experience to dial in their espressos just how they want.

Pressure

The pressure an espresso machine uses also affects the quality of the coffee it produces. Many espresso drinkers have noticed that their drinks taste different based on the amount of pressure employed, even when all other elements remain the same.

Most commercial machines use 9 bars of pressure to brew espresso. They also tend to be driven by pumps rather than steam-driven. Although there are machines with higher pressures however, they typically require a more complex group head design to handle the increased pressure levels.

Although you might see espresso machines that advertise 15 or even 18 bars of pressure, nine bars is generally considered the gold standard for creating consistently excellent brews. These higher-pressure machines tend to be less expensive and designed for home use.

In comparison, 9 bar of pressure is four times more than the pressure exerted by your car tire. The more pressure that a professional espresso maker can apply, then the better it will be at extracting flavor out of the coffee beans you love. Therefore, it's worth investing in a high-end machine that will give you the best possible results.

Barista Skills

A barista needs to be able to take and process orders from customers quickly and accurately. This is especially important when there is a lot of activity at the coffee shop. Effective customer service skills are essential for building relationships with customers and increasing sales for the coffee shop. This includes recognizing frequent customers, working effectively to resolve problems and remaining positive and friend even in difficult situations.

A strong ability to multitask is a must for baristas as they may be required to take orders and operate the cash counter and also communicate orders to their coworkers and answer phone calls simultaneously. This ability allows orders to be moving quickly to the customer and gives them an enjoyable experience at the coffee shop.

It is helpful for a barista to have knowledge of the various styles of drinks that can be made using an espresso coffee machine with milk frother machine. This can be gained through studying the various types of coffee, trying the drinks in person and watching videos on the internet. Many baristas find it helpful to attend classes run by various organizations.