How to Build a Professional Espresso Machine
For coffee shops and cafes looking to attract customers who have passion for barista and espresso skills, this is a great choice. It's the official machine for the World Barista Championships, and it demonstrates.
The barista is able to refill the water reservoir during their shift. The machine also comes with steam wands that are cool-touch and hot water taps for tea.
Water
A commercial espresso machine has to produce a high volume of espresso based drinks in an efficient manner. This is why these machines are typically built from stainless steel which is more durable and resistant to breaks and scratches. These espresso machines are easier to maintain and clean.
Lastly, a good quality machine will have a separate shut-off valve for the water line to prevent the build-up of limescale. 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 to ensure it's being treated correctly. For espresso coffee machines distilled water may be remineralized by adding a small amount of minerals back to it. It can enhance the taste and reduce its erosive properties, but can also harm certain machines. The remineralized wate will make the boiler sensor think the machine is full and it isn't. This can cause overheating and even damage to the machine.
Grinder
The grinder is a crucial element in a successful espresso machine. The grinder transforms the unground, raw coffee bean into finely-ground coffee which can be tamped correctly into the filter basket for the best extraction.
Professional-grade commercial machines include a grinder that can be programmed for various sizes of drinks. This ensures constant results every time. Super-automatic machines go a step further and automate the entire process, from brewing to grinding and dispensing. These types of machines typically get high scores in Lab tests due to their hands-free simplicity of use.
A semi-automatic or manual espresso machine requires more involvement from the barista but the quality of the end product is often worth it. This model won a Good Housekeeping Coffee Award in 2022 for its clever dosing system that measures and dispensing the correct amount of coffee each time. It also features an low-pressure pre-infusion system for well-balanced extraction, as well as the milk frother produced rich, thick steamed-milk in our tests.
Temperature
Temperature is an important aspect in espresso. If the water isn't at an ideal temperature, it can cause a delay in extraction, and could lead to a bitter cup of coffee.
High-quality espresso machines come with tools to help you maintain the correct temperature of your water. A PID monitors and regulates temperature of the water. Double boiler systems are another method to do this. You can use one boiler to heat steam and water for tea, while using the other to heat water to brewing temperature.
Carles explains that these systems can make a difference for both large-scale businesses as well as home-based baristas. They can aid novices to dial in the perfect espresso drink because they are able to maintain the exact temperature and prevent several variables that can affect the flavor quality. It is also easier for baristas who have more experience to dial in their espressos just the way they prefer.
Pressure
The amount of pressure an espresso machine employs is another factor that affects the quality of the coffee it produces. Many espresso drinkers have observed that their drinks taste differently based on the pressure used, even if all other elements remain the same.
In general, commercial-grade machines use nine bars of pressure to brew espresso. These machines tend to be pump-driven rather than steam-driven. While higher-pressure machines are readily available however, they require a group head that is more sophisticated to handle the increased levels of pressure.
Although you might see espresso machines that advertise 15 or even 18 bars of pressure, nine bars are generally regarded as the gold standard for creating consistently excellent espressos. These higher-pressure machines are typically less expensive and are intended to be used at home.
To put 9 bars of pressure in perspective, it's more than four times the pressure that's imposed by the air in your car tire. The greater pressure a professional espresso maker is able to apply, the more effective it is at separating flavor from your favorite coffee beans. For this reason, it's worthwhile to invest in a top-quality machine that will deliver the most effective results.
Barista Skills
A barista should be able to take and process orders from customers quickly and accurately. This is particularly crucial in busy times at the coffee shop. Excellent customer service skills are crucial to build relationships with customers and boosting the sales of the coffee shop. This could include recognizing regular customers, working to resolve issues efficiently and remaining positive and welcoming even in stressful situations.
A strong ability to multitask is often required for baristas, since they may have to take orders and operate the cash register and communicate orders to colleagues and take phone calls at the same time. This ability allows customers to enjoy a pleasant experience in the cafe by ensuring that orders are delivered promptly.
It is important for baristas to know the different styles of drinks that can be prepared by an espresso machine. You can find out about the various kinds of espresso by studying about them, experimenting with them in person, and watching online videos. Many baristas find it helpful to attend classes provided by various organizations.