What to Look For in a Barista Espresso Machine

The espresso machine is among the most complicated coffee machines around the globe. It is comprised of three major components. The bottom holds the water and the middle is a basin for filtration with a metal filter.

This machine was a huge hit and helped to popularize the prosumer (home barista) espresso market. It features a low pressure pre-infusion as well as the 2.2L boiler, and the brewing pressure of 9 bar espresso machine bars.

Pressure

If you're serious about coffee then you're aware that the pressure of your espresso machine is an important factor in how your drinks are made. If you're looking for a thick layer of crema or right balance of acidity and flavor, the pressure of your espresso maker is essential to making excellent espresso.

BARs (Barometric pressure) is the amount of force that your espresso machine exerts on grounds of the coffee while delivering high-pressure water. 9 BARs mean that your espresso machine is pushing heated water through the ground coffee at a a rate of nine times the Earth's current atmospheric pressure.

The pressure of your machine is vital because it allows water to pass through the coffee grounds at the right speed and intensity. If the pressure isn't high enough the oils and flavors won't be extracted properly. If the pressure is too low, the dissolved flavors and oils will not be extracted properly.

You can control the pressure of your espresso maker by changing the screw on the espresso maker. Commercial machines and some of the top-end home appliances have pumps with rotary that can be adjusted. However, for the less expensive home machines that utilize the vibrating pump, altering the pressure is impossible without getting into DIY hacks. However, companies like Cafflano are developing technology that utilizes Pascal's Principle to maintain pressure inside the portafilter during the fermentation process.

Temperature

The temperature is among the most critical factors for an espresso shot that is perfect. Hot water can cause burning of the grounds of coffee, which can result in bitter drink. The ideal extraction temperature is around 200 degrees Fahrenheit, which allows the water to extract all of the coffee's desirable flavors without burning the grounds or over-extracting.

The best espresso machines feature thermoblocks, also known as thermocoils that heats water and keeps it at a constant temperature throughout the extraction process. The Breville Barista Express, for example, features PID (Proportional Integral Derivative) system which constantly monitors the temperature of water and adjusts it as needed, ensuring that the brew head stays at the perfect temperature to extract the coffee.

Most coffee for espresso machine lovers know that the temperature of your espresso maker is a crucial factor in making a quality cup of coffee. The ideal temperature for brewing espresso is between 190 to 196 degrees Fahrenheit. In order to achieve this, your espresso machine should have a high-quality thermoblock or thermocoil and the boiler must be sized to the correct size.

It is also crucial to pre-heat your machine or portafilter before making a shot. Failure to preheat is one of the most common mistakes made by beginner espresso makers. It is recommended to read your espresso machine with grinder machine's instruction manual before you use it for the first time.

Grind

A barista espresso machine must also offer a variety of grind settings to give you the most control over the final cup of coffee. Some machines have an analog pressure gauge, that looks cool and can help you gain knowledge about your brewing techniques. The goal is to maintain an average pressure of nine bars throughout the brewing cycle. While this machine does not hit that target, it is pretty close and will be able to serve you well.

Another nice touch on this machine is that it has a built-in burr grinder. This feature is great for beginners because it eliminates the need to purchase a separate grinder. The grinder is an stainless steel conical unit with 18 settings ranging from "coarse" to "fine."

This grinder isn't as good as a stand-alone unit, but it can get you started on the path to making excellent espresso shots. It's easy to clean and you can stop it while grinding and avoid creating a mountain of ground that can spill across your portafilter as it makes its way to making tamps.

This is a beautiful and functional machine that lets you to feel the excitement of being a barista at home. This is a great option for anyone who would like to relive the thrill of pouring microfoam into their morning cup of coffee by locking the portafilter to the grouphead's head and tamping with accuracy. For those who just want convenience, a bean to cup machine could be the better choice.

Water

Water can be a tricky thing to master. The trick is to find the right balance. If you're using too much, it could cause mineral deposits in your machine, but too small and you'll struggle to get a rich cup of espresso.

The ideal espresso water is soft and high in alkalinity. This is best achieved using a water filter system which bypasses all chlorine and adds back in a small amount of total dissolving solids (TDS) to add some calcium and magnesium to the mix. This will create an ideal balance of alkalinity and hardness and reduce the necessity of decalcifying your machine.

Using a high-quality filter water is essential to your machine's longevity health as well as the taste of the coffee it produces. Based on the usage and hardness of your machine you should make use of a descaling product on a regular schedule. They are available in tab, liquid or powder in a variety of hardware stores.

The Breville Barista Express, a luxury high-end home compact espresso machine machine is designed to bring the café experience to your home. It is equipped with more advanced features compared to other machines for beginners and is designed for coffee lovers who want to refine their techniques and perfect their craft. The thermocoil heater with an integrated PID controller placed on the group head that is heated continuously, makes it easy to regulate your brewing temperature. This can be a huge benefit over other models that require longer "temperature surfing" to get an espresso shot that is consistent.