How to Build a Professional Espresso Machine

This is a great option for cafes and coffee and espresso machine shops which want to draw customers who are enthralled by espresso and barista skills. It's the official machine for World Barista Championships and it truly shows.

It has a water reservoir so that the barista just has to refill it during their shift. The machine also comes with steam wands with cool-touch technology and hot water taps for tea.

Water

A commercial espresso machine has to make a large amount of espresso based drinks in an efficient manner. This is why these machines are generally constructed from stainless steel which is more robust and resistant to scratches and breaks. Espresso machines made of stainless steel make it easier to clean and maintain.

A high-quality machine must include an additional shut-off valve that is connected to the water pipe to prevent the accumulation of limescale. This will ensure that any repairs are restricted to the affected parts of the machine and won't impact the rest your operation.

When selecting your water be sure to test it and treat it correctly to get the best results. You can remineralize distilled water by adding a few minerals. This can reduce its erosive properties and improve its flavor, but it could also harm certain machines. The remineralized wate will make the boiler sensor think that the machine is full, even though it isn't. This could cause the machine to overheat and be damaged.

Grinder

The grinder is a crucial element in a successful espresso machine. It is a process that takes a raw, unground bean and transforms it into finely ground coffee that can be tamped into the filter basket to produce an excellent extraction.

Commercial-grade professional espresso machines usually have a built-in grinding unit that can be programmed to grind for various sizes of drinks, providing that the results are consistent every time. Super-automatic espresso Machine with grinder machines go one step further by automating and programmable the entire process from brewing to grinding to dispensing. These kinds of machines are able to score high marks in Lab tests due to their hands-off simplicity of use.

Semi-automatic and manual machines require more effort from the barista but often the results are worth the effort. This model earned an 2022 Good Housekeeping coffee and espresso machine 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 for balanced extraction, and the milk frother produced dense, thick steamed milk during our tests.

Temperature

Temperature is a major element in espresso. If the water temperature is not at a suitable degree, it can cause extraction to be hindered and can even lead to bitter cups.

Espresso machines that are of high-quality come with tools that can help you keep the correct temperature of your water. A PID monitors and regulates the temperature of water. Another method is making use of a double boiler. This allows you to make use of one boiler for steam and tea and the other one to heat water to brew temperatures.

Carles states that these kinds of systems can be beneficial for large businesses and home baristas alike. They can make it simpler for newbies to dial in the perfect espresso drink because they can maintain an accurate temperature and avoid a lot of the variables that can alter the flavor profile. It is also simpler for baristas with more experience to make their espressos exactly how they prefer.

Pressure

The pressure an espresso machine uses can affect the quality of coffee it produces. Many espresso drinkers have noticed that their coffee tastes different depending on the pressure used, despite the fact that all other elements remain the same.

In general, most commercial-grade machines utilize nine bars of pressure to brew espresso. These machines tend to be pump-driven, not steam-driven. While higher-pressure machines exist they generally require a more complex group head design that can manage the higher pressure levels.

While some espresso machines advertise 15 or 18 bars of pressure in their machines 9 bars are typically considered to be the gold standard when it comes to making consistently great espressos. These machines with higher pressure are generally more affordable and are designed for home use.

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 more pressure an experienced espresso machine can exert, the better it will be at extracting flavor from your favorite coffee beans. It's worth investing in a high-quality machine that can give you the most effective results.

Barista Skills

A barista should be able take orders and handle them quickly and accurately. This is particularly important when there is a lot of activity at the coffee shop. Being able to provide excellent customer service is also vital to establishing relationships with customers and increasing sales for the shop. This includes acknowledging regular customers, working effectively to resolve problems and being positive and helpful even when faced with difficult situations.

Baristas often need to be capable of multitasking, as they have to take orders, operate a cash register and communicate orders with coworkers, and answer telephone calls at the same time. This skill allows them to keep orders moving quickly to the customer, and allows them to have an enjoyable experience in the coffee shop.

It is beneficial for a barista to be aware of the various styles of drinks that can be prepared with an espresso machine. Learn about the various types of espresso by reading about them, trying them in person and watching online videos. Many baristas also find it beneficial to attend classes on the subject, which are offered by several organizations.