What Is Professional Espresso Machine And Why Is Everyone Dissing It?
What Is Professional Espresso Machine And Why Is Everyone Dissing It?
Blog Article
How to Build a Professional Espresso Machine
For coffee shops and cafes looking to attract customers with a love of barista and espresso skills, this is an excellent choice. It's the official machine used for World Barista Championships and it really shows.
It is equipped with a reservoir of water so that the barista only has to refill it during their shift. The machine also features steam wands with cool-touch technology and a hot water tap for tea.
Water
A commercial espresso machine has to produce a high volume of espresso based drinks efficiently. This is why they are typically built from stainless steel which is more durable and resistant to breaks and scratches. Stainless steel espresso machines also make it easier to keep clean and maintained.
A high-quality machine must include a separate shut-off valve for the water pipe in order to prevent limescale build-up. This will ensure that any repairs are limited to the affected parts of the machine, and will not interfere with the other operations.
Check your water and make sure it is being treated correctly. You can remineralize the water you distill by adding some minerals. This can negate it's anti-erosive properties as well as improve its taste, but it can also damage some machines. This is because the remineralized water can cause the boiler sensor to think that the machine is filled, when it's not. This can cause the machine to overheat and be damaged.
Grinder
The grinder is an essential component of an espresso machine that works. It is a process that takes a raw, unground bean and transforms it into a finely ground coffee that can then be placed into the filter basket, resulting in an excellent extraction.
Commercial-grade professional espresso machines usually have a built-in grinder which can be programmed to grind various sizes of drinks, ensuring consistent results each time. Super-automatic machines go further and automate the entire process from brewing through grinding and dispensing. These kinds of machines usually get high marks in Lab tests due to their hands-free user-friendliness.
A manual or semi-automatic espresso machine requires more involvement from the barista, however the quality of the final result is often worth the effort. This model won an award called the Good Housekeeping Coffee Award in 2022 due to its sophisticated dosing system that measures and dispenses the right amount of coffee every time. It also includes a low-pressure pre-infusion system for well-balanced extraction as well as the milk frothing tool that was a success in our test for producing thick, rich steaming milk.
Temperature
When it comes to espresso temperature, it plays an important role in the taste and quality of your coffee. If the water isn't operating at an optimal temperature, it could affect extraction and can lead to bitter coffee.
Fortunately, espresso machines of high-end quality come with tools that enable you to ensure that your water is at the correct temperature. One method to achieve this is by using electric espresso maker PIDs, which monitors and adjusts the temperature of the water. Double boiler systems are another method to accomplish this. This allows you to make use of one boiler for tea and steam while the second one heats water to brew temperature.
Carles explains how these systems can be beneficial for both large businesses and baristas at home. They can make it much easier for beginners to get the perfect shot of espresso because they are able to maintain an accurate temperature and avoid a lot of the variables that can alter the flavor profile. It helps experienced baristas to create their espressos exactly how they would like them.
Pressure
The pressure an espresso machine is using can also impact the quality of the coffee it produces. Many espresso drinkers have observed that their drinks taste different based on the amount of pressure that is used, even though all other variables remain the same.
The majority of commercial machines utilize 9 bars of pressure in order to brew espresso. These machines are also more likely to be steam driven than pump-driven. Although higher-pressure machines are also available however they require a group head that is more sophisticated to handle the higher levels of pressure.
While some espresso machines advertise 15 or 18 bars of pressure in their machines 9 bars are typically considered to be the gold standard when it comes to making consistently excellent brews. These machines with higher pressure are generally cheaper and intended for use at home.
To put 9 bar of pressure into perspective, it's four times the amount of pressure that's exerted by the air inside your car tire. The more pressure that a professional espresso maker can apply, the better it is at capturing the flavor of your favorite coffee beans. It's worth investing in top-quality machines that produce the best results.
Barista Skills
A barista must be able to take orders from customers quickly and efficiently. This is particularly crucial when there is a lot of activity at the coffee shop. Good customer service skills are also important for building relationships with customers and boosting sales for the coffee shop. This can include acknowledging regular customers, working to resolve issues efficiently and remaining positive and amiable in tough situations.
Being able to multitask is usually required for baristas as they may have to take orders as well as operate the cash register and communicate orders to colleagues and handle phone calls simultaneously. This skill allows the customer to enjoy an enjoyable experience at the coffee shop by ensuring that orders get delivered quickly.
It is important for a barista to be knowledgeable about the various styles of drinks that can be made by an espresso machine. Learn about the different types of espresso by studying them, experimenting with the drinks in person and by watching online videos. Baristas often consider it beneficial to attend classes on the subject, which are offered by various organizations.