How to Build a Professional Espresso Machine

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

The barista is able to refill the reservoir of water throughout their shift. The machine comes with a tea hot water tap and steam wands that cool-touch.

Water

A commercial espresso machine must be able to produce a large quantity of espresso-based drinks in an efficient manner. This is why these machines are generally constructed from stainless steel which is more durable and resistant to scratches and break. Espresso machines are also easier to maintain and clean.

A good machine has a shut-off valve for the water line to avoid the build-up of limescale. This will ensure that any repairs are made to the affected machine components and won't affect the rest of your operation.

When selecting the water you want to drink make sure you test it and treat it correctly to ensure the best budget espresso machine results. Remineralize water that has been distilled by adding a few minerals. This could reduce its negative erosive properties and enhance the taste, but it can also damage some machines. The remineralized wate will make the boiler sensor think that the machine is full, even though it isn't. This could cause overheating and even damage to the machine.

Grinder

The grinder is a key element of an best small espresso machine machine that is successful. It takes a raw, unground bean and transforms it into finely ground coffee that can be properly placed into the filter basket to create an excellent extraction.

Commercial-grade professional espresso machines usually include a built-in grinder that can be programmed to grind for various sizes of drinks, ensuring the same results every time. Super-automatic espresso machines go one step further, implementing automation and programmable the whole process from brewing to dispensing. These kinds of machines are able to score high scores in Lab tests due to their hands-off user-friendliness.

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 intelligent dosing system, which measures and distributes the right amount of coffee every time. It also comes with a low pressure pre-infusion mechanism for smooth extraction and the milk frothing tool that performed well in our tests for producing thick, rich steamed milk.

Temperature

When it comes to espresso temperature plays a huge influence on the taste and quality of your espresso. If the water isn't at its ideal temperature, it may cause a delay in extraction, and could result in a bitter cup of coffee.

High-end espresso machines have devices that allow you to maintain the right temperature of your water. A PID monitors and regulates temperature of water. Another method is making use of a double boiler. This allows you to make use of one boiler for tea and steam and the other for heating water to brewing temperatures.

Carles points out that these types of systems can make the difference for large-scale businesses as well as home espresso machine baristas. They can make it much easier for newbies to dial in the perfect compact espresso machine since they can keep an exact temperature and eliminate a lot of the factors that can affect the flavor profile. It is also simpler for baristas with more experience to dial in their espressos just how they prefer.

Pressure

The pressure an espresso maker uses is another aspect that influences the quality of the coffee it produces. Many espresso drinkers have noticed that their drinks taste differently based on the pressure that is used, even though all other elements remain the same.

In general, commercial grade machines utilize nine bars of pressure to brew espresso. They also tend to be driven by pumps rather than steam-driven. Although there are machines with higher pressures they generally require a more intricate group head design that can handle the higher pressure levels.

While you may see espresso machines that advertise 15 or even 18 bars of pressure, nine bars are generally considered to be the gold standard for creating consistently excellent espressos. These higher-pressure machines are typically more affordable and are designed to be used at home.

To put 9 bar of pressure into perspective, it's nearly four times the amount of pressure that is exerted by the air inside your car tire. The more pressure that an espresso maker with professional quality can apply, then the more effective it is at extracting flavor out of your favorite coffee beans. It's worth investing in high-quality machines that can produce the best ground coffee for espresso machine results.

Barista Skills

A barista needs to be able to take and process customer orders quickly and efficiently. This is particularly crucial when there is a lot of activity in the coffee shop. Having good customer service skills is also crucial for establishing customer relationships and increasing sales for the shop. This includes acknowledging regular customers, working efficiently to resolve problems and remaining friendly and positive when faced with difficult situations.

A strong ability to multitask is a must for baristas, since they could be required to take orders and operate the cash register, communicate orders to coworkers and respond to phone calls at the same time. This skill allows the customer to enjoy a pleasant coffee shop experience by making sure that orders are delivered promptly.

It is crucial for a barista's knowledge to be able to prepare different types of drinks using an espresso machine. Learn about the various kinds of espresso by studying the various types, trying them in person, or watching online videos. Many baristas also consider it beneficial to attend classes on the matter, offered by several organizations.