10 Professional Espresso Machine Hacks All Experts Recommend

How to Build a Professional Espresso Machine

This is a great choice for cafes and coffee shops which want to draw customers who are enthusiastic about barista and espresso. It's the official barista machine for World Barista Championships and it truly shows.

It also has a reservoir for water so that the barista only needs to refill it throughout their shift. The machine comes with hot water for tea and steam wands with cool-touch.

Water

A commercial espresso machine is required to create a huge amount of espresso based drinks efficiently. The machines are typically made of stainless steel, which is strong and resistant against scratches and breaks. Espresso machines made of stainless steel make it easier to keep clean and maintained.

A good machine will have a separate shut-off valve for the water line to prevent the formation of limescale. This will ensure that any repairs are limited to the affected components of the machine, and will not interfere with the other operations.

When you select your water ensure that you test it and treat it appropriately to ensure the best results. For instance distillate water can be recycled by adding a small amount of minerals back to it. This can negate it's anti-erosive properties as well as improve its flavor, but it can also damage some machines. The remineralized wate will make the boiler sensor think the machine is full even though it's not. This could cause overheating and possibly damaging the machine.

Grinder

The grinder is a key element of a successful espresso machine. The grinder transforms an unground, raw coffee bean into a finely ground coffee which can be tamped correctly into the filter basket to ensure an excellent extraction.

Commercial-grade professional espresso machines usually have a built-in grinder which can be programmed to grind various sizes of drinks, which ensures consistency in results every time. Super-automatic espresso machines uk machines go one step further, by automating and programmable the whole process from brewing to dispensing. These machines are often praised during Lab tests for being easy to use.

Semi-automatic or manual machines require more effort from the barista, but the results are worth the effort. This model earned an 2022 Good Housekeeping Coffee Award for its dosing technology that weighs and dispenses the right amount of ground coffee each time. It also comes with a low-pressure pre-infusion system to ensure balanced extraction and the milk frothing wand, which performed well in our tests for producing thick, rich steaming milk.

Temperature

When it is time to make espresso temperature, it plays an important role in the taste and quality of your espresso. If the temperature of the water is not at a suitable degree, it can cause extraction to be hindered and may even result in an unpleasant cup.

Espresso machines that are of high-quality come with devices that allow you to maintain the proper temperature of your water. A PID monitors and regulates temperature of water. Another method is using a double dual boiler espresso machine system. This allows you to use a single boiler to steam and tea and the other for heating water to brew temperatures.

Carles states that these kinds of systems can be beneficial for large businesses and baristas at home alike. They can make it easier for beginners to make the perfect espresso because they can maintain an exact temperature and eliminate some of the factors that can affect the flavor profile. It helps experienced baristas to get their shots exactly how they want them.

Pressure

The pressure the espresso machine makes use of also affects the quality of the coffee it produces. Many espresso drinkers notice that their coffees taste different depending on the pressure that is used, even though all other factors remain constant.

Most commercial machines use 9 bars of pressure in order to brew espresso. These machines tend to be pump-driven instead of steam-driven. Although higher-pressure machines are also available but they require a group head that is more complex to handle the higher levels of pressure.

While some espresso machines advertise 15 or 18 bars of pressure on their machines, nine bars are generally considered to be the gold standard when it comes to creating consistently great brews. These machines that are higher pressure are generally smaller and designed for home use.

In comparison, 9 bar of pressure is four times higher than the pressure applied by your car tire. The greater the pressure an espresso maker that is professional can apply, then the better it will be at separating flavor from your favorite coffee beans. It's worth investing in top-quality machines that will give you the highest quality results.

Barista Skills

A barista needs to be able to take orders from customers quickly and accurately. This is particularly important when there is a lot of activity at the coffee shop. Having good customer service skills is also vital to establishing relationships with customers and increasing sales for the shop. This includes recognizing frequent customers, working effectively to resolve issues and staying positive and friendly even in the most difficult of situations.

Baristas are often able to multitask, as they have to take orders, operate a cash register, communicate orders with coworkers and take phone calls all at once. This ability allows customers to enjoy an enjoyable experience at the coffee shop by ensuring that orders are served promptly.

It is crucial for a barista's knowledge in order to make various drinks using an espresso machine. This can be gained through reading up on the different kinds of coffee, testing them out in person and watching videos online. Many baristas find it beneficial to attend classes offered by various organizations.