10 Healthy Professional Espresso Machine Habits
10 Healthy Professional Espresso Machine Habits
Blog Article
How to Build a Professional Espresso Machine
For cafes and coffee shops looking to attract customers who have a love of espresso and barista abilities, this is a great choice. It's the official machine used for the World Barista Championships, and it shows.
The barista is able to refill the reservoir with water throughout their shift. The machine also comes with cool-touch steam wands and a hot water tap for tea.
Water
A commercial espresso machine must be able to produce a large volume of espresso-based drinks effectively. The machines are typically made of stainless steel, which is durable and resistant to scratches and breaks. These espresso machines are easy to maintain and clean.
Finally, a high-quality machine will have a separate shut off valve for the water line to prevent the build-up of limescale. This will ensure that any repairs are only limited to the affected parts of the machine and won't interfere with the other operations.
When you select your water, make sure to test it and treat it properly to get the best results. For instance the distilled water can be remineralized by adding a small amount of minerals back into it. This could reduce its negative erosive properties and enhance the taste, but it could also cause damage to certain machines. Remineralized wate makes the boiler sensor think that the machine is full and it isn't. This can cause the machine to overheat and be damaged.
Grinder
The grinder is a crucial component of a successful coffee maker. It is a process that takes a raw, unground bean and transforms it into finely ground coffee that can be tamped into the filter basket, resulting in an excellent extraction.
Commercial-grade professional espresso machines usually include a built-in grinder that can be programmed to grind different drink sizes, ensuring consistency in results every time. Super-automatic machines go further and automate the entire process from brewing, to grinding and dispensing. These types of machines are able to score high scores in Lab tests for their hands-off user-friendliness.
Semi-automatic or manual machines demand more effort from the barista but often the results are worth the effort. This model won an award known as the Good Housekeeping Coffee Award in 2022 for its intelligent dosing mechanism that measures and delivers the correct amount of coffee every time. It also comes with an infusion with low pressure for an even extraction, and a milk frother that produced thick, rich steamed milk in our tests.
Temperature
The temperature is a crucial aspect in espresso. If the temperature of the water isn't at a good degree, it can result in a slower extraction and even result in bitter cups.
Fortunately, top-quality espresso machines come with tools that enable you to keep your water at the right temperature. One method to achieve this is to use PIDs that monitor and adjusts the temperature of the water. Double boiler systems are another method to achieve this. One boiler can be used to heat water and steam for tea, while using the second boiler to heat water to brewing temperature.
Carles explains that these systems can be beneficial for large corporations as well as baristas working from home. They can make it easier for novices to make the perfect espresso because they maintain an exact temperature and eliminate a lot of the factors that can alter the flavor profile. It is also easier for baristas who have more experience to make their espressos exactly how they would like.
Pressure
The pressure an espresso machine uses also affects the quality of coffee it makes. Many espresso drinkers notice that their drinks taste different depending on the pressure that is used, even though all other elements remain the same.
In general, commercial-grade machines use nine bars of pressure to create espresso. These machines are also more likely to be steam-driven instead of pump-driven. Although higher-pressure machines are also available but they require a group head that is more intricate to handle the higher levels of pressure.
While some espresso machines advertise 15 or 18 bars of pressure in their machines, nine bars are generally considered to be the standard for making consistently excellent espressos. These machines that are higher pressure tend to be less expensive and designed for home use.
In comparison, 9 bars of pressure is 4 times more than the pressure exerted by your car tire. The greater pressure a professional espresso machine can apply, the better it will be at extracting flavor from your favorite coffee beans. It's worthwhile to invest in high-end machines that can produce the best results.
Barista Skills
A barista should be able read more take orders and handle them quickly and accurately. This is especially important in busy times at the coffee shop. Excellent customer service skills are essential for building relationships with customers and boosting the sales of the coffee shop. This includes acknowledging regular customers, working effectively to resolve issues and being positive and helpful even when faced with difficult situations.
Baristas are often capable of multitasking, as they are expected to take orders and operate a cash counter as well as communicate orders to coworkers, and answer telephone calls at the same time. This ability helps keep orders moving quickly to the customer and ensures that customers have a pleasant experience in the coffee shop.
It is vital for baristas to be able make different drinks with an espresso machine. This can be accomplished by studying the various types of coffee, trying them in person, and watching videos on the internet. Many baristas also consider it beneficial to attend classes on the topic, which are offered by a variety of organizations.