How to Build a Professional Espresso Machine

For coffee shops and cafes seeking to attract customers with an interest in barista and espresso skills, This is a great option. It's the official machine used for World Barista Championships and it really does show.

It is equipped with a reservoir of water so that the barista only has to refill it during their shift. The machine also features steam wands that are cool-touch and hot water taps for tea.

Water

A commercial espresso machine should be able of producing an enormous amount of espresso-based drinks efficiently. They are usually constructed of stainless steel, which is tough and resistant to breakages and scratches. Stainless steel italian espresso machine machines also make it easier to clean and maintain.

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

When choosing your water, make sure to test it and treat it appropriately to ensure the best results. For example distillate water can be remineralized by adding a small amount of minerals back into it. It can improve the taste and lessen its erosive qualities, but can also damage certain machines. This is because the remineralized water will cause the boiler sensor to believe that the machine is full, even though it is not. This could cause overheating and possibly damaging the machine.

Grinder

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

Professional-grade commercial machines include grinders that are programmed for various sizes of drinks. This guarantees constant results every time. Super-automatic machines go further and automatize the entire process, from brewing to grinding and dispensing. These machines are often praised in Lab tests for their ease to use.

A semi-automatic or manual espresso machine requires more involvement from the barista, however the quality of the end result is often worth it. This model was awarded the Good Housekeeping Coffee Award in 2022 for its intelligent dosing mechanism that measures and delivers the correct amount of coffee every time. It also comes with the ability to use a low pressure pre-infusion to ensure balanced extraction, italian espresso machine and an milk frother that created dense, thick steamed milk during our tests.

Temperature

When it is about espresso temperature, it plays a significant 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 lead to a bitter cup of coffee.

Luckily, the best espresso machines come with tools that will allow you to keep your water at the right temperature. A PID monitors and regulates the temperature of the water. Another option is utilizing a double boiler system. This allows you to utilize one boiler for tea and steam and the other one to heat water to brew temperatures.

Carles mentions that these systems can be beneficial for large companies as well as home baristas. They can make it much easier for novices to make the perfect shot of espresso because they are able to maintain an accurate temperature and avoid some of the factors that can alter the flavor profile. It helps experienced baristas to make their espressos exactly how they would like them.

Pressure

The amount of pressure an espresso machine makes use of is another element that contributes to the quality of the coffee it produces. Many espresso drinkers notice that their coffees taste different based on the amount of pressure that is used, even though all other factors remain constant.

In general, commercial grade machines utilize nine bars of pressure to make espresso. These machines tend to be driven by pumps rather than steam-driven. While there are higher-pressure machines however, they typically require a more complicated group head design that can handle the higher pressure levels.

While some espresso machines advertise 15 or 18 bars of pressure in their machines nine bars are usually considered to be the gold standard when it comes to creating consistently great brews. These machines with higher pressure are typically less expensive and are designed for home use.

To put 9 bars of pressure into perspective, it's nearly four times the amount of pressure that is exerted by the air inside your car tire. The greater the pressure a professional espresso maker is able to apply, the better it is at capturing the flavor of your favorite coffee beans. It's worth investing in top-quality machines that can produce the most effective results.

Barista Skills

A barista needs to be able to take orders from customers quickly and accurately. This is particularly crucial when there is a lot of activity at the coffee shop. Good customer service skills is also essential for building relationships with customers and increasing sales for the shop. This could include recognizing regular customers, resolving issues quickly and remaining positive and welcoming even in stressful situations.

A strong ability to multitask is usually required for baristas as they could be required to take orders and operate the cash counter and also communicate orders to their coworkers and respond to phone calls at the same time. This ability allows customers to enjoy an enjoyable coffee shop experience by ensuring that orders get delivered quickly.

It is important for a barista's knowledge to be able to make various drinks using an espresso machine. This can be learned by reading about the various types of coffee, attempting them out in person, or watching videos online. Many baristas find it beneficial to attend classes run by various organizations.