How to Build a Professional Espresso Machine

For cafes and coffee shops looking to attract customers with a passion for barista and espresso, This is a great option. It's the official machine used for World Barista Championships, and it shows.

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

Water

A commercial espresso machine has to produce a large quantity of espresso based drinks in an efficient manner. This is why they are typically built from stainless steel, which is more durable and resistant to scratches and break. These espresso machines are easier to maintain and clean.

Additionally, a top quality machine has a shut-off valve for the water line, to prevent the formation of limescale. This will ensure that any repairs are restricted to the affected parts of the machine, and will not affect the operation of the rest.

Check your water to ensure it is being treated correctly. Remineralize water that has been distilled by adding some minerals. This can negate it's anti-erosive properties as well as improve its flavor, but it can also damage some machines. The remineralized wate will make the boiler sensor think the machine is full, even though it isn't. This can cause the machine to overheat, and eventually be damaged.

Grinder

The grinder is an essential element for the success of an espresso machine. The grinder turns a raw, unground coffee bean into a finely ground coffee that can be tamped properly into the filter basket to ensure an outstanding extraction.

Commercial-grade professional espresso machines usually have a built-in grinding unit that can be programmed to grind for various sizes of drinks, which ensures consistent results each time. Super-automatic espresso machines go one step further by automating and programmable the whole process from brewing to dispensing. These machines are often praised in Lab tests for being easy to use.

A manual or semi-automatic espresso machine requires more involvement from the barista, however the quality of the end result is often worth it. This model was awarded the 2022 Good Housekeeping Coffee Award for its dosing technology which weighs and delivers the right amount of ground coffee each time. It also has a low pressure pre-infusion for an even extraction, and the milk frother produced rich, thick steamed-milk in our tests.

Temperature

The temperature is a crucial element in espresso home machine. If the water isn't operating at an optimal temperature, it can hinder extraction and even result in a bitter cup of coffee.

High-quality travel espresso maker machines come with tools that can help you keep the correct temperature of your water. A PID monitors and regulates temperature of the water. The other way is by using a double boiler. This allows you to use one boiler for steam and tea and the other one to heat water to brewing temperatures.

Carles explains that these systems can be beneficial for large corporations as well as baristas at home. They make it easier for newbies to dial in the perfect espresso because they can maintain an accurate temperature and avoid a lot of the variables that can alter the flavor profile. It is also easier for baristas who have more experience to get their espressos just the way they want.

Pressure

The pressure an espresso machine uses is another factor that influences the quality of the coffee for espresso machine it produces. Many espresso drinkers notice that their coffees taste different based on the amount of pressure that is used, even though all other elements remain the same.

Most commercial machines use 9 bars of pressure to brew espresso. These machines also tend to be driven by pumps rather than steam-driven. Although high-pressure machines are offered however they require a group head that is more complicated to handle the higher levels of pressure.

Although you might see espresso machines advertising 15 or even 18 bars of pressure, nine bars is generally regarded as the gold standard for consistently great brews. These machines with higher pressures are generally less expensive and are intended for use at home.

To put 9 bar of pressure into perspective, it's more than four times the amount that's exerted by the air inside your car tire. The more pressure an experienced Espresso Machine with frother machine can put on to the coffee, the better it will be at removing the flavor from the coffee beans you love. It's worth investing in top-quality machines that produce the highest quality results.

Barista Skills

A barista should be able to take and process customer orders quickly and efficiently. This is especially important during busy times at the coffee shop. Good customer service skills are crucial for establishing relationships with customers as well as increasing sales for the coffee shop. This could include recognizing regular customers, working effectively to resolve issues and being positive and helpful even in the most difficult of situations.

The ability to multitask is a must for a barista, as they may have to take orders and operate the cash register, communicate orders to coworkers and handle calls at the same time. This skill allows them to keep orders moving quickly to the customer, and gives them a pleasant experience in the coffee shop.

It is helpful for baristas to be knowledgeable about the various kinds of drinks that can be made using an espresso machine. This can be gained through researching the different types of coffee, trying them out in person and watching videos on the internet. Many baristas also prefer to attend classes on the matter, offered by various organizations.