How to Build a Professional Espresso Machine

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

The barista can refill the reservoir with water throughout their shift. The machine also has steam wands that are cool-touch and a hot water tap for tea.

Water

A commercial espresso machine needs to create a huge amount of espresso based drinks efficiently. They are usually constructed of stainless steel, which is durable and resistant against breaks and scratches. These espresso machines are also easier to maintain and clean.

A top-quality machine should have an additional shut-off valve that is connected to the water pipe to avoid limescale build-up. This will ensure that any repairs are made to the affected components of the machine and won't impact the remainder of your operation.

Test your water and ensure it's being treated correctly. For example distilled water may be recycled by adding a small amount of minerals back to it. This could reduce its anti-erosive properties as well as improve the taste, but it may also damage machines. The remineralized water will make the boiler sensor think that the machine is full even though it's not. This could cause overheating and possibly damaging the machine.

Grinder

The grinder is a crucial component of a successful coffee maker. The grinder transforms an unground, raw coffee bean into finely-ground coffee which can be tamped correctly into the filter basket to ensure an efficient extraction.

Commercial-grade travel espresso maker (Source) machines usually have a built-in grinder which can be programmed to grind different sizes of drinks, which ensures that the results are consistent every time. Super-automatic espresso machines go one step further, by automating and programmable the entire process from brewing to dispensing. These kinds of machines are able to score high marks in Lab tests due to their hands-off accessibility.

Semi-automatic and manual machines require more work from the barista but often the results are worth it. This model was awarded an award known as the Good Housekeeping Coffee Award in 2022 for its smart dosing mechanism that measures and delivers the correct amount of coffee every time. It also comes with the ability to use a low pressure pre-infusion to ensure an even extraction, and a milk frother that produced dense, thick steamed milk during our tests.

Temperature

Temperature is a major element in espresso. If the water temperature is not at its ideal degree, it can result in the extraction being impeded and may even result in a bitter cup.

Fortunately, top-quality espresso machines come with tools that will allow you to ensure that your water is at the right temperature. A PID monitors and regulates the temperature of the water. Another option is making use of a double boiler. This lets you use one boiler for steam and tea and the other one to heat water to brew temperatures.

Carles mentions that these systems can make a difference for large companies and baristas working at home espresso machine. They can help novices get the perfect espresso shot because they can maintain the exact temperature and prevent various variables that can alter the flavor of the flavor. It also makes it easier for experienced baristas to get their shots exactly how they would like them.

Pressure

The pressure that an espresso machine makes use of is another element that contributes to the quality of the coffee it produces. Many espresso drinkers notice that their beverages taste different based on the amount of pressure employed, even when all other factors remain the same.

In general, most commercial-grade machines use nine bars of pressure to brew espresso. These machines tend to be pump-driven rather than steam-driven. Although higher-pressure machines are also available however they require a group head that is more complex to handle the increased levels of pressure.

Although you might see espresso machines that advertise 15 or even 18 bars of pressure, nine bars are generally considered to be the gold standard for making consistently excellent espressos. These higher-pressure machines tend to be cheaper and designed for use at home.

In comparison, 9 bar espresso machine bar of pressure is four times greater than the pressure that is exerted by your car tire. The more pressure an experienced espresso machine can exert more pressure, the better it'll be at extracting flavor from your favorite coffee beans. Therefore, it's worth investing in a high-end machine that will give you the best results.

Barista Skills

A barista should be able handle orders quickly and precisely. This is particularly crucial during busy times in the coffee shop. A good understanding of customer service is essential to build customer relationships and increasing sales for the shop. This includes recognizing frequent customers, working effectively to resolve issues and staying positive and friendly even in challenging circumstances.

The ability to multitask is often necessary for baristas as they may be required to take orders and operate the cash counter, communicate orders to coworkers and respond to phone calls simultaneously. This ability helps keep orders moving quickly to the customer, and ensures that customers have an enjoyable time in the coffee shop.

It is essential for a barista's education to be able make various types of coffee using an espresso machine. This can be accomplished by studying the various types of coffee, trying them out in person, or watching videos online. Many baristas find it beneficial to take classes offered by various organizations.