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How to Build a Professional Espresso Machine

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

It comes with a water reservoir which means that the barista requires refilling it throughout their shift. The machine has a tea hot water tap and cool-touch steam wands.

Water

A commercial espresso machine has to be able to make large quantities of espresso-based drinks efficiently. That's why these machines are generally constructed from stainless steel, which is more durable and resistant to scratches and breaks. Stainless steel espresso machines also make it easier to keep clean and maintained.

A top-quality machine should have a separate shut-off valve for the water pipe in order to prevent the build-up of limescale. This will ensure any repairs are limited to the affected parts of the machine and won't interfere with the other operations.

Test your water and make sure that it has been treated properly. Remineralize distilled water by adding some minerals. It can improve the taste and lessen its erosive properties, however it can also harm certain machines. Remineralized wate makes the boiler sensor think the machine is full even though it's not. This could cause excessive heat and damage to the machine.

Grinder

The grinder is a crucial component of a successful espresso maker. The grinder transforms the unground, raw coffee bean into a finely -ground coffee that can be properly tamped into the filter basket for an excellent extraction.

Commercial-grade professional espresso machines typically have a built-in grinder which can be programmed to grind various sizes of drinks, ensuring the same results every time. Super-automatic decent espresso machine machines take this one step further, implementing automation and programmable the whole process from brewing to dispensing. These machines are often praised in Lab tests for their ease to use.

Semi-automatic or manual machines require more work from the barista but often the results are worth the effort. This model was awarded the Good Housekeeping Coffee Award in 2022 for its smart dosing system that is able to measure and dispensing the correct amount of coffee every time. It also comes with a low-pressure pre-infusion system for an even extraction, as well as a milk frothing wand that excelled in our test for producing rich, thick steaming milk.

Temperature

When it is about espresso temperature plays a huge influence on the taste and quality of your espresso makers. If the water temperature is not at its ideal level, it may result in a slower extraction and even result in bitter coffee.

Fortunately, high-quality espresso machines come with tools that will allow you to keep your water at the right temperature. A PID monitors and regulates temperature of the water. The other way is by making use of a double dual boiler espresso machine. This lets you use one boiler for tea and steam, while the other heats water to brew temperatures.

Carles says that these types of systems can make a difference for large companies as well as home baristas. They can make it simpler for beginners to get the perfect espresso shot since they can keep an accurate temperature and avoid many of the variables that can alter the flavor profile. It helps baristas with experience to get their shots exactly as they want them.

Pressure

The pressure that an espresso machine utilizes also affects the quality of the coffee it makes. Many espresso drinkers notice that their beverages taste different depending on the pressure employed, even when all other elements remain the same.

In general, commercial grade machines utilize nine bars of pressure to create espresso. They also tend to be pump-driven rather than steam-driven. Although there are machines with higher pressures however, they typically require a more sophisticated group head design to handle the increased pressure levels.

While you may find espresso machines that advertise 15 or even 18 bars of pressure, nine bars is generally regarded as the gold standard for creating consistently great brews. These machines with higher pressure tend to be cheaper and designed for home use.

To put 9 bar of pressure in perspective, it's more than four times the amount that's imposed by the air in your car tire. The more pressure a professional espresso machine can put on and the more effective it will be at extracting flavor from the coffee beans you love. It's worth investing in a high-quality machine that can give you the best cheap espresso machine possible results.

Barista Skills

A barista should be able to accept and process orders from customers quickly and efficiently. This is especially crucial during busy times at the coffee shop. Effective customer service skills are essential for building relationships with customers and increasing the sales of the coffee shop. This includes recognizing regular customers, resolving issues efficiently and remaining optimistic and welcoming even in stressful situations.

Baristas are often able to multitask, as they are required to take orders and operate a cash register as well as communicate orders to coworkers, and answer telephone calls at the same time. This ability helps keep orders moving quickly to the customer, and gives them an enjoyable experience at the coffee shop.

It is helpful for baristas to have knowledge of the various kinds of drinks that can be prepared by an espresso machine. This can be mastered by reading about the various kinds of coffees, trying them out in person and watching videos on the internet. Baristas often consider it beneficial to attend classes on the subject, which are offered by a variety of organizations.