10 Healthy Professional Espresso Machine Habits

How to Build a Professional Espresso Machine

This is a fantastic option for cafes and coffee shops who want to attract customers who are passionate about espresso and barista abilities. It's the official machine used for World Barista Championships and it truly shows.

It is equipped with a reservoir of water so that the barista just has to refill it during their shift. The machine also features cool-touch steam wands and a hot water tap for tea.

Water

A commercial espresso machine needs to make a large amount of espresso based drinks efficiently. That's why they are generally constructed from stainless steel which is more durable and resistant to breakage and scratches. These espresso machines are also easier to maintain and clean.

Additionally, a top quality machine will have a separate shut-off valve for the water line to prevent limescale build up. This will ensure any repairs are limited to affected parts of the machine and won't impact the rest your operation.

When you select your water ensure that you test it thoroughly and treat it in a way to get the best results. You can remineralize distilled water by adding a few minerals. This can diminish its anti-erosive properties as well as improve its flavor, but it may also damage machines. This is because the remineralized liquid will cause the boiler sensor to think that the machine is full when it is not. This can lead to overheating and possibly damaging the machine.

Grinder

The grinder is an essential component of a successful espresso maker. The grinder converts a raw, unground coffee bean into finely-ground coffee which can be tamped correctly into the filter basket to ensure the best extraction.

Commercial-grade professional espresso machines usually include a built-in grinder that can be programmed to grind different sizes of drinks, ensuring consistent results each time. Super-automatic espresso machines go one step further, implementing automation and programmable the whole process from brewing to dispensing. These kinds of machines usually get high scores in Lab tests for their hands-off user-friendliness.

Semi-automatic or manual machines demand more work from the barista, but the results are worth the effort. This model was awarded the 2022 Good Housekeeping Coffee Award for its smart dosing feature that weighs and distributes the correct amount of ground coffee each time. It also comes with a low-pressure pre-infusion system for smooth extraction and a milk frothing wand that excelled in our test for producing rich, thick steamed milk.

Temperature

Temperature is an important factor in espresso. If the water isn't in its ideal temperature, it can hinder extraction and even cause the coffee being bitter.

Fortunately, high-quality espresso machines come with tools that enable you to keep your water at the correct temperature. A PID monitors and regulates the temperature of the water. Double boiler systems are a second method to accomplish this. You can use one boiler to heat water and steam for tea, while using the other to heat water to the brewing temperature.

Carles points out that these types of systems can make the difference for large businesses and baristas working at home. They can make it much easier for beginners to get the perfect espresso maker for home shot since they can keep an accurate temperature and avoid some of the factors that can affect the flavor profile. It's also simpler for baristas with more experience to get their espressos just how they would like.

Pressure

The pressure that the espresso machine makes use of can affect the quality of coffee it makes. Many Uk Espresso machine drinkers have noticed that their drinks taste different based on the amount of pressure used, even when all other factors remain constant.

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

Although you might see espresso machines advertising 15 or even 18 bars of pressure, nine bars is generally regarded as the most reliable standard for producing consistently excellent espressos. These machines with higher pressures are generally more affordable and are designed to be used at home.

In comparison, 9 bars of pressure is 4 times more than the pressure exerted by your car tire. The more pressure that a professional espresso maker can apply, then the better it will be at separating flavor from your favorite coffee beans. It is worth investing in top-quality machines that can produce the highest quality results.

Barista Skills

A barista needs to be able to accept and process orders of customers quickly and accurately. This is especially important when there is a lot of activity at the coffee shop. Effective customer service skills are crucial for establishing relationships with customers and increasing sales for the coffee shop. This includes acknowledging regular customers, working to resolve issues efficiently and remaining optimistic and friendly even in challenging situations.

Baristas often need to be able to multitask, as they must take orders and operate a cash counter, communicate orders with coworkers and respond to phone calls at the same time. This skill allows the customer to enjoy an enjoyable experience at the coffee shop by ensuring that orders get delivered promptly.

It is essential for a barista to know the various styles of drinks that can be prepared using an espresso coffee machine home machine. You can find out about the various types of espresso by studying their characteristics, tasting them in person and watching online videos. Many baristas find it beneficial to attend classes on the topic, which are provided by a variety of organizations.