How to Build a Professional Espresso Machine
This is an excellent choice for coffee shops and cafes that want to attract customers who are passionate about espresso and barista abilities. It's the official machine used for the World Barista Championships, and it shows.
It has a water reservoir so that the barista only needs to refill it throughout their shift. The machine also features steam wands with cool-touch technology and a hot water tap for tea.
Water
A commercial espresso machine needs to be able to create a huge amount of espresso-based drinks with efficiency. These machines are usually made of stainless steel, which is tough and resistant against breakages and scratches. Espresso machines are also easier to maintain and keep clean.
Lastly, a good quality machine will have a separate shut-off valve for the water line, to prevent the buildup of limescale. This will ensure that any repairs are limited to the affected parts of the machine and will not interfere with the other operations.
When choosing your water ensure that you test it and treat it properly to ensure the best results. You can remineralize the water you distill by adding some minerals. This could reduce its erosive properties and improve its taste, but it could also cause damage to certain machines. The remineralized wate can make the boiler sensor believe that the machine is full however it's not. This could cause overheating and possibly damaging the machine.
Grinder
The grinder is a vital element for an espresso machine that works. It takes a raw, unground bean and turns it into a finely ground coffee that can be placed into the filter basket for an excellent extraction.
Professional commercial machines come with a grinder that can be programmed to work with different sizes of drink. This ensures constant results every time. Super-automatic machines go further and automatize the entire process from brewing to grinding and dispensing. These machines are frequently praised in Lab tests for their ease to use.
A semi-automatic or manual espresso machine requires more involvement from the barista but the quality of the end product is often worth it. This model was awarded an 2022 Good Housekeeping Coffee Award for its intelligent dosing system that weighs and dispensing the right amount of ground coffee each time. It also features an infusion with low pressure for an even extraction, and an milk frother that created thick, rich steamed milk in our tests.
Temperature
Temperature is an important factor in espresso. If the water isn't at an ideal temperature, it may slow the extraction process and lead to a bitter cup of coffee.
High-end espresso machines have devices that allow you to maintain the right temperature of your water. A PID monitors and regulates temperature of water. Double boiler systems are another method to do this. This lets you use a single boiler to tea and steam and the other for heating water to brew temperature.
Carles says that these systems can make the difference for large corporations as well as home baristas. They can assist novices to dial in the perfect espresso shot because they maintain a precise temperature and avoid various variables that can alter the flavor profile. It is also easier for baristas who have more experience to dial in their espressos exactly how they want.
Pressure
The pressure that an espresso machine utilizes can affect the quality of the coffee it makes. Many espresso drinkers have observed that their drinks taste different based on the amount of pressure they use, even if all other variables remain the same.
The majority of commercial machines utilize 9 bars of pressure in order to brew espresso. These machines are also likely to be pump-driven instead of steam-driven. Although higher-pressure machines are also available, they require a group head that is more complex to handle the higher levels of pressure.
While you may see some espresso machines that advertise 15 or even 18 bars of pressure, nine bars are generally considered to be the gold standard for consistently excellent brews. These machines with higher pressures are generally cheaper and intended for home use.
To put coffeee.uk of pressure in perspective, it's over four times the amount of pressure that is exerted by the air inside your car tire. The more pressure an espresso maker that is professional can apply, then the better at extracting flavor out of your favorite coffee beans. This is why it's worth investing in a high-end machine that can give you the best results.
Barista Skills
A barista must be able to accept and process orders from customers quickly and efficiently. This is particularly crucial when there is a lot of activity at the coffee shop. Effective customer service skills are crucial to build relationships with customers and increasing the sales of the coffee shop. This includes recognizing regular customers, working to resolve issues efficiently and remaining positive and amiable in tough situations.
Being able to multitask is usually required for baristas as they could be required to take orders and operate the cash register and communicate orders to colleagues and take calls at the same time. This ability helps keep orders moving quickly to the customer and will allow them to have an enjoyable experience at the coffee shop.
It is important for a barista's education to be able make different drinks with an espresso machine. You can find out about the different types of espresso by studying the various types, trying them in person and watching online videos. Many baristas find it helpful to attend classes run by various organizations.