How to Build a Professional Espresso Machine

For coffee shops and cafes looking to attract customers who have an interest in espresso and barista abilities, this is an excellent choice. It's the official machine used for the World Barista Championships, and it demonstrates.

It has a water reservoir to ensure that the barista only needs to refill it throughout their shift. The machine is equipped with a tea hot water tap and cool-touch steam wands.

Water

A commercial espresso machine needs to be able to make a large volume of espresso-based drinks efficiently. They are typically made of stainless steel, which is strong and resistant against breaks and scratches. Espresso machines made of stainless steel make it easier to keep clean and maintained.

Additionally, a top quality machine has a shut-off valve for the water line in order to prevent limescale build up. This will ensure any repairs are limited to the affected parts of the machine, and will not impact the rest your operation.

Check your water to ensure it is being treated correctly. You can remineralize distilled water by adding some minerals. It can improve the taste of the water and eliminate its erosive qualities, but can also harm certain machines. This is because the remineralized water can cause the boiler sensor to think that the machine is full, even though it is not. This can cause the machine to overheat and cause damaged.

Grinder

The grinder is a key element in an espresso machine that works. It grinds a raw bean and turns it into a finely ground coffee that is then placed into the filter basket to create an excellent extraction.

Commercial-grade professional espresso machines typically include a built-in grinder that can be programmed to grind for various sizes of drinks, which ensures the same results every time. Super-automatic machines go a step further and automate the entire process from Fast brewing to grinding and dispensing. These machines are often praised during Lab tests for being easy to use.

Manual or semi-automatic machines require more work from the barista but often the results are worth the effort. This model earned the 2022 Good Housekeeping Coffee Award for its smart dosing feature which weighs and delivers the right amount of ground coffee each time. It also has a low-pressure pre-infusion system to ensure balanced extraction and a milk frothing wand that performed well in our tests for producing thick, rich steamed milk.

Temperature

Temperature is a key element in espresso. If the water isn't in its ideal temperature, it may slow the extraction process and lead to the coffee being bitter.

Fortunately, espresso machines of high-end quality have tools that allow you to ensure that your water is at the right temperature. One method for doing this is by using PIDs, which monitors and adjusts the temperature of the water. Double boiler systems are a different way to do this. You can use one boiler to heat steam and water for tea, while using the second to heat water to the brewing temperature.

Carles explains that these systems can make a difference for both large-scale businesses as well as home-based baristas. They make it easier for novices to get the perfect espresso drink because they maintain an exact temperature and eliminate some of the factors that can alter the flavor profile. It also makes it easier for baristas with experience to get their shots exactly as they would like them.

Pressure

The amount of pressure an espresso machine uses is another aspect which affects the quality of the coffee it produces. Many espresso and filter coffee machine drinkers have noticed that their drinks taste different based on the amount of pressure they use, even if all other variables remain the same.

Most commercial machines use 9 bars of pressure to make espresso. These machines tend to be pump-driven, not steam-driven. While higher-pressure machines are readily available but they require a group head that is more complex to handle the increased levels of pressure.

While some espresso machines advertise 15 or 18 bars of pressure on their machines 9 bars are typically considered to be the standard when it comes to making consistently excellent espressos. These machines that are higher pressure tend to be cheaper and are designed for home use.

In comparison, 9 bar of pressure is four times greater than the pressure applied by your car tire. The more pressure that a professional espresso maker can apply, the more effective it is at capturing the flavor of the coffee beans you love. For this reason, it's worth investing in a high-end machine that will give you the best results.

Barista Skills

A barista should be able take orders and process them quickly and accurately. This is especially important during busy periods in the coffee shop. Being able to provide excellent customer service 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 being positive and fast Brewing helpful even in the most difficult of situations.

Baristas are often skilled at multitasking, since they are required to take orders and operate a cash register and share orders with colleagues and handle phone calls at the same time. This skill helps keep orders moving quickly to the customer, and will allow them to have an enjoyable experience in the coffee shop.

It is helpful for baristas to be aware of the various kinds of drinks that can be prepared by an espresso machine. This can be mastered by reading about the various kinds of coffee, testing them out in person, or watching videos on the internet. Many baristas consider it beneficial to attend classes on the matter, Fast Brewing offered by various organizations.