How to Build a Professional Espresso Machine
This is an excellent choice for cafes and coffee shops who want to attract customers who are passionate about barista and espresso. It's official machine for the World Barista Championships, and it shows.
It also has a reservoir for water which means that the barista requires refilling it throughout their shift. The machine is equipped with a tea hot water tap and cool-touch steam wands.
Water
A commercial espresso machine is required to create a huge amount of espresso based drinks in an efficient manner. That's why these machines are usually constructed of stainless steel, which is more robust and resistant to scratches and breaks. Stainless steel espresso machines also make it easier to keep clean and maintained.
A high-quality machine should include a separate shut-off valve to the water pipe to avoid the accumulation of limescale. This will ensure that any repairs are isolated to the affected machine components and won't impact the remainder of your operation.
Test your water to ensure it is treated properly. Remineralize distilled water by adding a few minerals. This can negate it's negative erosive properties and enhance the taste, but it may also damage machines. This is because the remineralized water will cause the boiler sensor to think that the machine is full when it is not. This can cause the machine to overheat, and eventually be damaged.
Grinder
The grinder is a key element in an espresso machine that is successful. The grinder turns an unground, raw coffee bean into a finely-ground coffee that can be properly tamped into the filter basket for the best extraction.
Professional espresso machines of commercial grade typically have a built-in grinder which can be programmed to grind different sizes of drinks, ensuring that the results are consistent every time. Super-automatic machines go one step further and automate the entire process from brewing, to grinding and dispensing. These kinds of machines typically get high scores in Lab tests due to their hands-off ease of use.
A semi-automatic or manual espresso machine requires more involvement by the barista, but the quality of the end result is usually worth it. This model earned an 2022 Good Housekeeping Coffee Award for its smart dosing feature that weighs and distributes the correct amount of ground coffee every time. It also comes with a low pressure pre-infusion system that allows for balanced extraction and the milk frothing wand, which was a success in our test for producing thick, rich steaming milk.
Temperature
When it is about espresso temperature, it plays an important influence on the taste and quality of your coffee. If espresso coffee machine Coffeee of your water is not at the right degree, it can cause extraction to be impeded and even result in a bitter cup.
High-quality espresso machines come with tools that help you maintain the right temperature of your water. One method of doing this is with an PID, which monitors and adjusts the temperature of the water. The other way is by making use of a double boiler. You can use one boiler to heat water and steam for tea, while using another for heating water to brewing temperature.
Carles mentions that these types of systems can make a difference for large corporations and home baristas alike. They can make it simpler for newbies to determine the ideal espresso shot because they maintain an exact temperature and eliminate many of the factors that can affect the flavor profile. It can also make it easier for experienced baristas to create their espressos exactly how they would like them.
Pressure
The pressure that an espresso machine utilizes can affect the quality of the coffee it produces. Many espresso drinkers have observed that their drinks taste differently based on the pressure they use, even if all other variables remain the same.
In general, commercial-grade machines utilize nine bars of pressure to brew espresso. These machines tend to be pump-driven rather than steam-driven. Although higher-pressure machines are available however, they require a group head that is more complicated to handle the increased levels of pressure.
While some espresso machines advertise 15 or 18 bars of pressure on their machines 9 bars are typically considered to be the gold standard for making consistently excellent brews. The higher-pressure machines tend to be more affordable and designed for home use.
In comparison, 9 bar of pressure is four times more than the pressure that is exerted by your car tire. The more pressure that an espresso maker with professional quality can apply, the more effective it is at extracting flavor out of the coffee beans you love. Therefore, it's worthwhile to invest in a top-quality machine that will deliver the highest quality results.
Barista Skills
A barista should be able take and process orders quickly and accurately. This is particularly important in busy times in the coffee shop. A good understanding of customer service is essential to build relationships with customers and increasing sales for the shop. This can include acknowledging regular customers, working to resolve issues efficiently and remaining positive and friendly even in challenging situations.
Baristas typically need to be adept at multitasking as they must take orders, operate a cash register and share orders with colleagues and handle phone calls all at once. This skill allows the customer to enjoy a pleasant coffee shop experience by ensuring that orders are served quickly.
It is essential for baristas to be knowledgeable about the different styles of drinks that can be prepared with an espresso machine. Learn about the various kinds of espresso by studying them, experimenting with them in person and watching online videos. Many baristas find it helpful to attend classes run by various organizations.