15 Interesting Facts About Professional Espresso Machine That You Never Knew

How to Build a Professional Espresso Machine

This is a great choice for cafes and coffee shops that want to attract customers who are passionate about barista and espresso skills. It's the official machine of the World Barista Championships and it really does show.

It comes with a water reservoir which means that the barista needs to refill it once during their shift. The machine comes with a tea hot water tap and cool-touch steam wands.

Water

A commercial espresso machine has to produce a high volume of small espresso machine based drinks efficiently. They are usually constructed of stainless steel, which is tough and resistant against breakages and scratches. These espresso machines are simpler to maintain and clean.

A good quality machine should have a separate shut-off valve to the water pipe, to prevent limescale accumulation. This will ensure that any repairs are limited to affected components of the machine and will not interfere with the other operations.

Test your water and ensure it is treated properly. For example distillate water can be restored by adding a tiny amount of minerals back into it. This can negate it's erosion properties and improve its flavor, but it could also cause damage to certain machines. The remineralized wate can make the boiler sensor think that the machine is full, even though it isn't. This can cause overheating and possibly damaging the machine.

Grinder

The grinder is an essential element for a successful espresso machine. It is used to take a raw, unground bean and turns it into finely ground coffee that is then placed into the filter basket, resulting in an excellent extraction.

Commercial-grade espresso machines usually have a built-in grinding unit that can be programmed to grind for various sizes of drinks, ensuring that the results are consistent every time. Super-automatic machines go one step further and automatize the entire process from brewing to grinding and dispensing. These types of machines usually get high scores in Lab tests due to their hands-off user-friendliness.

A semi-automatic or manual espresso machine requires more involvement by the barista, but the quality of the final result is usually worth it. This model earned a 2022 Good Housekeeping Coffee Award for its intelligent dosing system which weighs and delivers the correct amount of ground coffee each time. It also has a low-pressure pre-infusion system to ensure smooth extraction and the milk frothing wand, which performed well in our tests for producing thick, rich steaming milk.

Temperature

The temperature is a crucial factor in espresso. If the water temperature is not at the right degree, it can cause extraction to be hindered and can even lead to a bitter cup.

Fortunately, high-quality espresso machines come with tools that enable you to keep your water at the right temperature. A PID monitors and regulates temperature of the water. Another option is utilizing a double boiler system. This lets you utilize one boiler for steam and tea, while the other heats water to brewing temperatures.

Carles states that these systems can be beneficial for large corporations and home baristas alike. They can help novices to dial in the perfect espresso shot since they are able to maintain the exact temperature and prevent many variables that can affect the flavor quality. It also makes it easier for experienced baristas to create their shots exactly how they would like them.

Pressure

The pressure an espresso maker uses is another aspect which affects the quality of the coffee it makes. Many espresso drinkers notice that their coffees taste different based on the pressure employed, even when all other elements remain the same.

The majority of commercial machines utilize 9 bars of pressure in order to brew espresso. These machines are also likely to be pump-driven, not steam-driven. Although high-pressure machines are offered, they require a group head that is more complicated to handle the higher levels of pressure.

Although you might see espresso machines that advertise 15 or even 18 bars of pressure, nine bars is generally regarded as the most reliable standard for producing consistently great brews. These machines with higher pressure are generally less expensive and are intended to be used at home.

In comparison, 9 bars of pressure is four times higher than the pressure applied by your car tire. The more pressure that a professional espresso coffee makers maker can apply, the better it is at capturing the flavor of the coffee beans you love. This is why it's worth investing in a high-end machine that can deliver the best budget espresso machine results.

Barista Skills

A barista needs to be able handle orders quickly and precisely. This is especially important during busy times in the coffee shop. Being able to provide excellent customer service is also vital to establishing customer relationships and increasing sales for the shop. This includes acknowledging regular customers, working to resolve issues efficiently and remaining optimistic and helpful in difficult situations.

The ability to multitask is a must for a barista as they could be required to take orders and operate the cash register and communicate orders to colleagues and handle calls at the same time. This ability allows customers to enjoy an enjoyable coffee shop experience by ensuring that orders are served quickly.

It is vital for a barista's education to be able make various types of coffee using an espresso machine. This can be learned by studying the various kinds of coffee, testing them out in person, or watching videos online. Many baristas prefer to attend classes on the topic, which are provided by various organizations.