10 Professional Espresso Machine Hacks All Experts Recommend

How to Build a Professional Espresso Machine

For coffee shops and cafes looking to attract customers who have a passion for espresso and barista skills this is a great choice. It's the official barista machine for World Barista Championships and it truly shows.

The barista is able to refill the water reservoir during their shift. The machine is equipped with a hot water tap for tea and cool-touch steam wands.

Water

A commercial espresso machine should be able to produce a huge amount of espresso-based drinks efficiently. That's why they are built with stainless steel, which is more durable and resistant to scratches and breaks. espresso makers machines made of stainless steel make it easier to clean and maintain.

A good quality machine should have a separate shut-off valve for the water pipe to avoid the accumulation of limescale. This will ensure that any repairs are limited to the affected components of the machine, and will not impact the rest your operation.

When selecting your water, make sure to test it and treat it properly to ensure the best results. Remineralize distilled water by adding some minerals. This can diminish its negative erosive properties and enhance its flavor, but it could also cause damage to certain machines. The remineralized wate can make the boiler sensor think the machine is full even though it's not. This could cause the machine to overheat and cause damaged.

Grinder

The grinder is an essential component of a successful espresso machine. It grinds a raw bean to cup espresso machines and transforms it into finely ground coffee that can be properly tamped into the filter basket, resulting in an excellent extraction.

Commercial-grade espresso machines usually have a built-in grinder which can be programmed to grind different sizes of drinks, providing consistent results each time. Super-automatic cafe espresso machine machines go one step further by automating and programmable the whole process from brewing to dispensing. These machines are often praised in Lab tests for being easy to use.

A manual or semi-automatic espresso machine requires more involvement from the barista but the quality of the end product is often worth it. This model was awarded the Good Housekeeping Coffee Award in 2022 for its clever dosing system that measures and dispenses the right amount of coffee every time. It also features an infusion with low pressure for balanced extraction, and an milk frother that created dense, thick steamed milk during our tests.

Temperature

Temperature is a major element in espresso. If the temperature of your water is not at a suitable level, it can cause extraction to be impeded and even result in bitter coffee.

High-quality espresso machines come with devices that allow you to maintain the proper temperature of your water. A PID monitors and regulates temperature of water. Double boiler systems are a second method to achieve this. This allows you to use a single boiler to tea and steam, while the other heats water to brew temperature.

Carles says that these types of systems can be beneficial for large corporations and baristas working at home. They can assist novices to dial in the perfect espresso shot since they are able to maintain an exact temperature and eliminate various variables that can alter the flavor profile. It is also much easier for baristas with more experience to dial in their shots just the way they would like.

Pressure

The amount of pressure an espresso machine uses is another factor which affects the quality of the coffee it makes. Many espresso drinkers have observed that their drinks taste different based on the amount of pressure used, despite the fact that all other elements remain the same.

In general, most commercial-grade machines utilize nine bars of pressure to create espresso. They also tend to be pump-driven rather than steam-driven. While there are higher-pressure machines, they often require a more complicated group head design that can take on the higher pressures.

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 higher-pressure machines are typically more affordable and are designed for use at home.

To put 9 bars of pressure into perspective, it's nearly four times the amount that is exerted by the air inside your car tire. The more pressure that an espresso maker with professional quality can apply, the better it is at separating flavor from your favorite coffee beans. For this reason, it's worth investing in a high-quality machine that will deliver the best possible results.

Barista Skills

A barista should be able take orders and handle them quickly and precisely. This is especially crucial during busy times in the coffee shop. Being able to provide excellent customer service is also crucial for establishing relationships with customers and generating more business for the shop. This could include recognizing regular customers, resolving issues quickly and remaining positive and welcoming even in stressful situations.

Baristas typically need to be skilled at multitasking, since they must take orders and operate a cash counter as well as communicate orders to coworkers and respond to phone calls at the same time. This skill allows them to keep orders moving quickly to the customer and gives them an enjoyable experience at the coffee shop.

It is important for a barista's knowledge in order to make different types of drinks using an espresso machine. This can be learned by reading up on the different kinds of coffees, trying the drinks in person and watching videos on the internet. Many baristas also prefer to attend classes on the topic, which are provided by many organizations.