How to Build a Professional Espresso Machine
For cafes and coffee shops looking to attract customers who have an interest in barista and espresso skills, this is a great choice. It's the official machine used for World Barista Championships and it truly shows.
The barista can refill the water reservoir during their shift. The machine also features steam wands that are cool-touch and a hot water tap for tea.
Water
A commercial espresso machine must be able to create a huge amount of espresso-based drinks efficiently. That's why they are built with stainless steel, which is more robust and resistant to breakage and scratches. Espresso machines made of stainless steel make it easier to maintain and clean.
A good quality machine should include an independent shut-off valve for the water pipe, to prevent the build-up of limescale. This will ensure that any repairs will be isolated to the affected components of the machine and won't impact the rest of your operation.
Check your water and make sure it is being treated correctly. For example, distilled water can be restored by adding a tiny amount of minerals back to it. This can diminish its anti-erosive properties as well as improve the taste, but it could also harm certain machines. The remineralized wate can make the boiler sensor believe that the machine is full even though it's not. This could cause the machine to overheat, and eventually be damaged.
Grinder
The grinder is an essential element in the success of an espresso machine. It grinds a raw bean and turns it into a finely ground coffee that is then put into the filter basket, resulting in an excellent extraction.
Professional commercial machines come with grinders that are programmed to accommodate different sizes of drinks. This ensures the same results every time. Super-automatic espresso machines take this one step further, implementing automation and programmable the whole process from brewing to grinding to dispensing. These machines are often praised during Lab tests for their ease to use.
A manual or semi-automatic espresso machine requires more involvement from the barista but the quality of the final result is usually worth it. This model won a 2022 Good Housekeeping Coffee Award for its clever dosing feature which weighs and delivers the right amount of ground coffee each time. It also has a low-pressure pre-infusion system to ensure smooth extraction and a milk frothing wand that did well in our tests for producing thick, rich steaming milk.
Temperature
When it is time to make espresso temperature plays a huge role in the taste and quality of your espresso. If the water isn't at an optimal temperature, it could affect extraction and can result in an unpleasant cup of coffee.
Espresso machines that are of high-quality come with tools to help you maintain the correct temperature of your water. A PID monitors and regulates the temperature of the water. Double boiler systems are another way to accomplish this. This allows you to make use of one boiler for tea and steam, while the other heats water to the right temperature for brewing.
Carles explains how these systems can be beneficial for both large-scale businesses as well as baristas working from home. They can aid novices to dial in the perfect espresso because they can keep a precise temperature and avoid many variables that can affect the flavor quality. It is also easier for baristas with more experience to get their shots just the way they would like.
Pressure
The pressure the espresso machine makes use of can affect the quality of coffee it makes. Many espresso drinkers notice that their beverages taste different depending on the pressure they use, even if all other variables remain the same.
In general, commercial-grade machines utilize nine bars of pressure to create espresso. These machines are also likely to be driven by pumps rather than steam-driven. Although high-pressure machines are offered however they require a group head that is more complex 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 standard for making consistently great espressos. These higher-pressure machines are typically more affordable and are designed to be used at home.
In comparison, 9 bar of pressure is four times greater than the pressure exerted by your car tire. The more pressure that a professional espresso maker is able to apply, then the better in bringing out the flavor of the coffee beans you love. It is worth investing in top-quality machines that will give you the most effective results.
Barista Skills
A barista needs to be able to take orders from customers quickly and efficiently. This is especially crucial during busy times at the coffee shop. Having good customer service skills is essential to build customer relationships and increasing sales for the shop. This could include recognizing regular customers, working to resolve issues efficiently and remaining optimistic and helpful in difficult situations.
Having strong multitasking skills is usually required for baristas as they might be required to take orders and operate the cash register, communicate orders to coworkers and take phone calls at the same time. This ability allows orders to be moving quickly to the customer and gives them an enjoyable experience at the coffee shop.
It is helpful for a barista to be knowledgeable about the various types of drinks that can be prepared by an espresso machine. You can find out about the various kinds of espresso by reading about the various types, trying them in person, and watching online videos. Baristas often prefer to attend classes on the matter, offered by several organizations.