How to Build a Professional Espresso Machine

This is an excellent choice for cafes and coffee shops that want to attract customers who are enthusiastic about espresso and barista skills. It's the official machine for World Barista Championships, and it displays.

It comes with a water reservoir to ensure that the barista only requires refilling it throughout their shift. The machine is equipped with an hot water tap for tea and cool-touch steam wands.

Water

A commercial espresso machine must be able to make a large amount of espresso-based drinks in an efficient manner. This is why they are usually constructed of stainless steel, which is more robust and resistant to scratches and break. Stainless steel espresso machines also make it easier to keep clean and maintained.

A good machine has a shut-off valve for the water line to avoid the buildup of limescale. This will ensure that any repairs are only limited to the affected components of the machine and not interfere with the other operations.

When selecting your water make sure you test it thoroughly and treat it in a way to get the best results. For example distilled water may be restored by adding a tiny amount of minerals back to it. It can improve the taste of the water and eliminate its erosive properties, however it 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 when it's not. This can cause the machine to overheat, and eventually be damaged.

Grinder

The grinder is a crucial component of a successful coffee maker. The grinder converts a 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 include a built-in grinder that can be programmed to grind for different sizes of drinks, providing consistency in results every time. Super-automatic espresso machines go one step further, by automating and programmable the whole process from brewing to grinding to dispensing. These kinds of machines usually get high marks in Lab tests for their hands-off user-friendliness.

A manual or wiki.dulovic.tech semi-automatic espresso machine requires more involvement from the barista but the quality of the final product is often worth it. This model was awarded a 2022 Good Housekeeping Coffee Award for its intelligent dosing system that weighs and dispensing the right amount of ground coffee every time. It also has an low-pressure pre-infusion system for balanced extraction, and a milk frother that made thick, rich steamed milk in our tests.

Temperature

Temperature is a major aspect in espresso. If the water isn't at its optimal temperature, it could affect extraction and can lead to bitter coffee for espresso machine.

Luckily, the best espresso machines come with tools that will allow you to ensure that your water is at the right temperature. One method to achieve this is to use PIDs that monitor and adjusts the temperature of the water. Double boiler systems are another method to do this. This allows you to use a single boiler to steam and tea and the other for heating water to brewing temperatures.

Carles mentions that these types of systems can make a difference for large corporations as well as home baristas. They can make it much easier for novices to determine the ideal espresso machine coffee drink since they can keep an exact temperature and eliminate all the variables that can alter the flavor profile. It is also much easier for baristas with more experience to dial in their espressos just the way they would like.

Pressure

The pressure that an espresso machine is using can affect the quality of the coffee it makes. Many espresso drinkers notice that their beverages taste different depending on the pressure they use, even if all other factors 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. While there are higher-pressure machines, they often require a more complicated group head design that can manage the higher pressure levels.

While you may find espresso machines advertising 15 or even 18 bars of pressure, nine bars is generally regarded as the gold standard for consistently great brews. These higher-pressure machines are typically smaller and designed for home use.

To put 9 bars of pressure in perspective, it's nearly four times the amount of pressure that's exerted by the air in your car tire. The greater the pressure a professional espresso maker can apply, then the more effective it is in bringing out the flavor of your favorite coffee beans. It's worth investing in a high-quality machine that can deliver the best possible results.

Barista Skills

A barista should be able to take orders from customers quickly and accurately. This is especially important during busy times at the coffee shop. Having good customer service skills is also crucial for establishing relationships with customers and generating more business for the shop. This could include recognizing regular customers, working effectively to resolve issues and staying positive and friendly even in the most difficult of situations.

Being able to multitask is a must for baristas, since they may have to take orders and operate the cash register and then communicate orders to coworkers and take phone calls simultaneously. This skill allows them to keep orders moving quickly to the customer and will allow them to have a pleasant experience in the coffee shop.

It is important for baristas to know the various styles of drinks that can be prepared with an espresso machine. This can be learned by reading up on the different types of coffee, trying them out in person and watching videos on the internet. Baristas often find it beneficial to take classes on the matter, offered by a variety of organizations.