How to Build a Professional Espresso Machine

For cafes and coffee shops looking to attract customers with passion for espresso and barista skills this is a great option. It's the official machine of the World Barista Championships and it really shows.

It has a water reservoir so that the barista only needs to refill it once during their shift. The machine has a tea hot water tap and steam wands that cool-touch.

Water

A commercial espresso machine is required to create a huge amount of espresso based drinks in an efficient manner. These machines are usually made of stainless steel, which is strong and resistant against breaks and scratches. Espresso machines made of stainless steel make it easier to keep clean and maintained.

A good quality machine should include a separate shut-off valve to the water pipe to prevent the build-up of limescale. This will ensure that any repairs are made to the specific machine components and won't affect the rest of your operation.

Check your water and ensure it is treated properly. You can remineralize the water you distill by adding some minerals. This can negate it's erosion properties and improve the taste, but it can also damage some machines. The remineralized wate can make the boiler sensor believe that the machine is full, even though it isn't. This can cause the machine to overheat and cause damaged.

Grinder

The grinder is a crucial component of a successful espresso maker for home maker. It is used to take a raw, unground bean and transforms it into finely ground coffee that can be placed into the filter basket for an excellent extraction.

Professional espresso maker for home machines of commercial grade typically come with a built-in grinder that can be programmed to grind various sizes of drinks, providing consistency in results every time. Super-automatic espresso machines take this one step further, by automating and programmable the entire process from brewing to grinding to dispensing. These kinds of machines usually get high scores in Lab tests due to their hands-free accessibility.

A semi-automatic or manual espresso machine requires more involvement by the barista, but the quality of the end product is often worth it. This model won an award called the Good Housekeeping Coffee Award in 2022 for its clever dosing system that measures and delivers the correct amount of coffee every time. It also features a low pressure pre-infusion for well-balanced extraction, as well as a milk frother that made rich, thick steamed-milk during our tests.

Temperature

Temperature is an important aspect in espresso. If the water isn't in its optimal temperature, it can cause a delay in extraction, and could result in bitter coffee.

Fortunately, high-quality espresso machines come with tools that will allow you to keep your water at the right temperature. One method for doing this is to use an PID, which monitors and adjusts the temperature of the water. Double boiler systems are another way to accomplish this. This lets you use one boiler for tea and steam and the other for heating water to brew temperature.

Carles points out that these systems can make a difference for large businesses and baristas at home alike. They can make it easier for novices to determine the ideal shot of espresso since they can keep an accurate temperature and avoid many of the factors that can affect the flavor profile. It can also make it easier for baristas with experience to get their espressos exactly how they would like them.

Pressure

The pressure that an espresso machine utilizes can affect the quality of the coffee it makes. Many espresso drinkers have noticed that their drinks have a distinct taste different depending on the pressure they use, even if all other elements remain the same.

In general, commercial grade machines utilize nine bars of pressure to brew espresso. These machines also tend to be pump-driven instead of steam-driven. Although higher-pressure machines are available but they usually 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 making consistently excellent brews. These machines with higher pressures are generally more affordable and are designed for use at home.

In comparison, 9 bar of pressure is 4 times more than the pressure that is exerted by your car tire. The greater pressure a professional buy Espresso makers machine can exert to the coffee, the better it will be at capturing the taste of your favorite coffee beans. It is worth investing in top-quality machines that can produce the best results.

Barista Skills

A barista must be able to take and process customer orders quickly and accurately. This is particularly crucial during busy times at the coffee shop. Excellent customer service skills are crucial for establishing relationships with customers and increasing sales for the coffee shop. This can include recognizing regular customers, working efficiently to resolve problems and remaining friendly and positive in difficult situations.

Having strong multitasking skills is often required for baristas as they could be required to take orders, operate the cash register and then communicate orders to coworkers and take phone calls simultaneously. This ability allows customers to enjoy a pleasant experience in the cafe by ensuring that orders get delivered promptly.

It is vital for a barista's education to be able to prepare different drinks with an espresso machine. You can get acquainted with the different types of espresso by studying them, experimenting with them in person and watching online videos. Many baristas find it beneficial to take classes on the subject, which are offered by various organizations.