How to Build a Professional Espresso Machine

For coffee shops and cafes seeking to attract customers with a love of espresso and barista skills this is a great option. It’s the official machine for the World Barista Championships, and it demonstrates.

The barista is able to refill the reservoir with water throughout their shift. The machine also comes with steam wands that are cool-touch and hot water taps for tea.

Water

A commercial espresso machine needs to be able to produce a huge amount of espresso-based drinks in a timely manner. These machines are usually made of stainless steel, which is strong and resistant against cracks and scratches. Espresso machines made of stainless steel make it easier to clean and maintain.

A top-quality machine should have a separate shut-off valve for the water pipe in order to prevent limescale build-up. This will ensure that any repairs are limited to affected components of the machine and won’t affect the operation of the rest.

Check your water to ensure it is being treated correctly. For instance distillate water can be restored by adding a tiny amount of minerals back to it. This can diminish its erosion properties and improve its flavor, but it may also damage machines. The remineralized wate can make the boiler sensor think that the machine is full, even though it isn’t. This can cause overheating and even damage to the machine.

Grinder

The grinder is an essential part of a successful espresso maker. It is used to take a raw, unground bean and turns it into finely ground coffee that can be properly put into the filter basket, resulting in an excellent extraction.

Commercial-grade professional espresso machines 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 espresso coffee maker machines go one step further, automating and programmable the whole process from brewing to dispensing. These machines are frequently praised in Lab tests for being easy to use.

Manual or semi-automatic machines require more effort from the barista but often the results are worth the effort. This model won the Good Housekeeping Coffee Award in 2022 for its clever dosing system that measures and dispensing the correct amount of coffee every time. It also has a low-pressure pre-infusion system that allows for an even extraction, as well as the milk frothing wand, which performed well in our tests for producing thick, rich steamed milk.

Temperature

Temperature is a key factor in espresso. If the temperature of your water isn’t at a good level, it may result in the extraction being impeded and even result in bitter coffee.

Espresso machines of the highest quality come with tools to help you maintain the right temperature of your water. One way to do this is with PIDs, which monitors and adjusts the temperature of the water. Double boiler systems are a second method to accomplish this. This allows you to utilize one boiler for steam and tea, while the other heats water to brew temperatures.

Carles points out that these kinds of systems can make the difference for large corporations and baristas at home alike. They can make it simpler for newbies to determine the ideal espresso since they can keep an accurate temperature and avoid all the factors that can affect the flavor profile. It’s also much easier for baristas with more experience to get their espressos just the way they prefer.

Pressure

The amount of pressure an espresso machine employs is another factor that contributes to the quality of the coffee it produces. Many espresso drinkers notice that their drinks taste different depending on the amount of pressure that is used, even though all other factors remain the same.

The majority of commercial machines espresso utilize 9 bars of pressure to brew espresso. These machines are also more likely to be steam-driven than pumps-driven. While higher-pressure machines exist however, they typically require a more complex group head design that can take on the higher pressures.

While you may see some espresso machines advertising 15 or even 18 bars of pressure, nine bars are generally considered to be the gold standard for making consistently excellent espressos. The higher-pressure machines tend to be more affordable and designed for use at home.

In comparison, 9 bars of pressure is 4 times more than the pressure applied by your car tire. The greater pressure an espresso maker that is professional can apply, then the better it will be at extracting flavor out of the coffee beans you love. It’s worthwhile to invest in high-end machines that can produce the best results.

Barista Skills

A barista needs to be able take orders and process them quickly and precisely. This is especially crucial when there is a lot of activity at the coffee shop. Excellent customer service skills are essential for building relationships with customers and boosting the sales of the coffee shop. This includes acknowledging regular customers, resolving issues efficiently and remaining positive and helpful in difficult situations.

A strong ability to multitask is often necessary for a barista as they may have to take orders as well as operate the cash register and then communicate orders to coworkers and handle phone calls at the same time. This skill allows the customer to enjoy an enjoyable experience at the coffee shop by making sure that orders are delivered promptly.

It is crucial for a barista espresso machine‘s education in order to make various types of coffee using an espresso machine. This can be mastered by researching the different kinds of coffees, trying them out in person, or watching videos on the internet. Many baristas find it beneficial to take classes on the topic, which are offered by a variety of organizations.