What to Look For in a Barista Espresso Machine

The espresso machine is among the most complex coffee machines available. It is comprised of three major parts. The bottom holds the water and the middle is a filter-basket with a metal filter.

This machine was a huge success and helped to popularize the prosumer (home barista) espresso market. Features include a low pressure pre-infusion with a 2.2L boiler, and the brewing pressure of 9 bars.

Pressure

If you're a coffee enthusiast, you'll be aware that the pressure of your machine is an important factor in the quality of your beverages. The pressure of your machine is crucial for making great coffee, whether you want a thick layer or a perfect balance of flavor and acidity.

BARs (Barometric Pressure) refer to the force applied to the coffee grounds when your espresso machine is pumping out its high-pressure water. 9 BARs means that the espresso machine is pushing heated water through the coffee grounds at a rate of nine times the Earth's current atmospheric pressure.

The pressure of your espresso machine is important because it's what allows the water to move through the grounds of coffee at the proper speed and intensity. If the pressure isn't sufficient the oils and flavors will not be extracted correctly. If the pressure is too low the dissolved flavors and oils will not be extracted properly.

The pressure of your espresso machine can be adjusted by turning the screw located on the espresso pump. Commercial and high-end home appliances have pumps that rotate with adjustable pressure. For the cheaper home machines that use the vibrating pump, altering the pressure isn't possible without using DIY hacks. However, companies like Cafflano are working on technology that makes use of Pascal's Principle to maintain pressure in the portafilter during the beer making process.

Temperature

Temperature is one of the most important elements in the making of a good espresso shot. Too hot water can burn the coffee grounds, resulting in bitter brew. The ideal extraction temperature is about 200 degrees Fahrenheit which allows the water to extract all the desirable coffee flavors without scorching the grounds, or over-extracting.

The top espresso machines come with the thermoblock, also known as a thermocoil that heats water and maintains it at an unchanging temperature throughout the extraction cycle. The Breville Barista Express, for example, has a PID (Proportional Integral Derivative) system which constantly checks the temperature of the water and adjusts if needed so that the brew head stays at a perfect temperature for extraction.

Many coffee drinkers know that the temperature of your espresso maker is a key factor in brewing a great cup of coffee. The ideal brewing temperature for espresso is between 190 and 196 degrees Fahrenheit. To get this temperature, your machine must have a good thermoblock or thermocoil and the boiler must be of the right size.

It is also important to pre-heat your machine as well as the portafilter and cup prior to making espresso. Espresso makers who are beginners often make the mistake of not preheating their equipment. This is the reason you should always go through the instruction manual prior to making espresso for the first time.

Grind

A barista espresso machine should also offer a variety of grind settings to give you the greatest control over your final cup of coffee. Some machines include an analog gauge that is cool and helps you improve your brewing abilities. Ideally, you want to get around nine bars of pressure and maintain that throughout the brewing cycle. This machine is getting close to reaching that goal.

A built-in burr mill is also a nice touch. This is an excellent feature for espresso newbies because it will not require you to pay for an additional burr grinder. The stainless steel conical grinder has 18 settings that range from "coarse to fine."

This grinder isn't as good as a standalone, but it's a good beginning and will get you on your way to making quality espresso shots. It's easy to clean, and you can put the grinder on hold during the process of grinding to prevent accumulating a large amount of ground on your portafilter while it is being tamped.

This gorgeous and practical machine will allow you to experience being a barista in your home. It's a great choice for anyone who wants to to look back at the memories of pouring the microfoam into your morning cup of coffee by locking a portafilter to the grouphead, and tamping with precision. For those who just want convenience, a bean-to- cup machine might be a better choice.

Water

Water is a challenging thing to master. Finding the right balance is vital. Too much caffeine can cause mineral deposits to form in your machine. But too little can result in less of an espresso.

The perfect espresso water has the lowest alkalinity and hardness level. This is best accomplished by using a water filter system that eliminates chlorine and brings an amount of total dissolving solids (TDS) to add some calcium and magnesium to the mix. This will result in an ideal balance of alkalinity and hardness and reduce the necessity of decalcifying your equipment.

Using high-quality filtered water is vital to your machine's overall health and the flavor of the coffee it makes. Based on the type of use and the hardness of your machine, you should use a descaling product on a regular schedule. These products come in powder, liquid and tab forms and can be found in many hardware stores.

The Breville Barista Express, a luxury high-end home espresso machine is designed to bring the cafe experience into your home. It is equipped with more advanced features when compared to other espresso machines that are beginner-friendly, and is geared towards those who are looking to refine their technique espresso coffee machine and master the art of coffee. The thermocoil heating system that comes with a built-in PID controller centered on the active heated group head makes it simple to control your brewing temperature. This is an advantage over other entry-level models, which require you to spend a lot of time "temperature-surfing" to ensure consistent espresso shots.