Is Professional Espresso Machine Really As Vital As Everyone Says?

How to Build a Professional Espresso Machine

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

It is equipped with a reservoir of water so that the barista only needs to refill it once during their shift. The machine comes with an hot water tap for tea and steam wands with cool-touch.

Water

A commercial espresso machine must be able to create a huge amount of espresso-based drinks efficiently. This is why they are built with stainless steel, which is more robust and resistant to scratches and breaks. These espresso machines are simpler to maintain and clean.

A high-quality machine should have an independent shut-off valve for the water pipe to prevent the accumulation of limescale. This will ensure that any repairs are only limited to the affected parts of the machine, and will not affect the rest of your operation.

Check your water and ensure it's being treated correctly. You can remineralize distilled water by adding some minerals. This can negate it's negative erosive properties and enhance its taste, but it could also cause damage to certain machines. This is because the remineralized liquid will cause the boiler sensor to believe that the machine is full, even though it's not. This can lead to overheating and even damage to the machine.

Grinder

The grinder is a crucial element for an espresso machine that works. It is a process that takes a raw, unground bean and transforms it into a finely ground coffee that is then put into the filter basket, resulting in an excellent extraction.

Commercial-grade professional machines include grinders that are programmed to work with different sizes of drink. This guarantees consistent results every time. Super-automatic machines go a step further and automatize the entire process from brewing, to grinding and dispensing. These kinds of machines are able to score high marks in Lab tests due to their hands-off ease of use.

Semi-automatic or manual machines require more work from the barista but often the results are worth the effort. This model was awarded an 2022 Good Housekeeping Coffee Award for its smart dosing feature which weighs and delivers the correct amount of ground coffee each time. It also has a low-pressure pre-infusion system for well-balanced extraction as well as an ice cream wand that performed well in our tests for producing thick, rich steamed milk.

Temperature

When it comes to espresso, temperature plays a major influence on the taste and quality of your shots. If the water temperature isn't at a good degree, it can cause extraction to be hindered and could result in an unpleasant cup.

Fortunately, top-quality espresso machines include tools that allow you to keep your water at the correct temperature. A PID monitors and regulates the temperature of water. Another method is utilizing a double boiler system. One boiler can be used to heat water and steam for tea, while using the other to heat water to the brewing temperature.

Carles states that these systems can make a difference for large companies and baristas working at home. They can make it easier for newbies to make the perfect espresso drink because they maintain an exact temperature and eliminate all the factors that can affect the flavor profile. It is also simpler for baristas with more experience to make their espressos just how they would like.

Pressure

The pressure an espresso machine utilizes also affects the quality of the coffee it makes. Many espresso drinkers have noticed that their drinks taste differently based on the pressure that is used, even though all other variables remain the same.

In general, commercial grade machines utilize nine bars of pressure to brew espresso. These machines are also more likely to be steam-driven instead of pumps-driven. Although there are machines with higher pressures, they often require a more complex group head design to take on the higher pressures.

Although you might see espresso machines that advertise 15 or even 18 bars of pressure, nine bars is generally regarded as the gold standard for making consistently excellent espressos. These machines that are higher pressure tend to be more affordable and designed for home use.

In comparison, 9 bars of pressure is four times more than the pressure that is exerted by your car tire. The greater pressure a professional espresso maker is able to apply, the more effective it is in bringing out the flavor of the coffee beans you love. For this reason, it's worthwhile to invest in a top-quality machine that will give you the most effective results.

Barista Skills

A barista needs to be able to accept and process orders of customers quickly and accurately. This is especially crucial when there is a lot of activity at the coffee shop. Good customer service skills are crucial to build relationships with customers and boosting the sales of the coffee shop. This can include recognizing regular customers, working effectively to resolve issues, and remaining positive and friend even in the most difficult of situations.

Having strong multitasking skills is usually required for a barista as they could be required to take orders, operate the cash register and also communicate orders to their coworkers and respond to phone coffee espresso machine calls at one time. This skill allows them to keep orders moving quickly to the customer and allows them to have a pleasant experience in the coffee shop.

It is important for baristas in order to make various types of coffee using an espresso machine. This can be accomplished by researching the different types of coffee, trying them out in person and watching videos on the internet. Many baristas prefer to attend classes on the matter, offered by several organizations.