What to Look For in a Barista Espresso Machine

The espresso machine is one of the most complicated coffee machines in the world. It is made up of three primary components. The bottom holds the water while the middle part is a filter-basket with a metal filter.

This machine was a huge success and helped popularize the prosumer (home barista) espresso market. It features a low pressure pre-infusion with the 2.2L boiler and brewing pressure of 9 bar.

Pressure

If you're serious about coffee and espresso, then you're aware that the pressure of your espresso machine is a crucial factor in how well your drinks come out. The pressure of your machine is essential in brewing excellent coffee whether you're looking for a dense layer or the perfect balance of flavor and acidity.

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

The pressure of your machine is crucial because it allows water to pass through the coffee grounds at the correct speed and intensity. If the pressure isn't sufficient the oils and flavors will not be extracted properly. If the pressure is too low the flavors and oils that are dissolved will not be extracted correctly.

You can control the pressure of your espresso maker by adjusting the screw of the espresso maker. Commercial machines as well as some high-end home appliances have pumps with rotary that can be adjusted. For home-based machines, which use a vibrating motor, it is not possible to adjust the pressure without DIY hacks. However, companies such as Cafflano are developing technology that makes use of Pascal's Principle to maintain pressure within the portafilter during the brewing process.

Temperature

The temperature is one of the most crucial factors to a great espresso shot. If the water is too hot, it will ignite the coffee grounds and produce an over-extracted bitter brew. The ideal temperature for extraction is 200 degrees Fahrenheit. This lets the water to extract all of the desired coffee flavors without scorching the grounds or over-extracting.

The best espresso machines will have a thermoblock or thermocoil that is used to heat the water and keep it at a stable temperature throughout the entire extraction cycle. The Breville Barista Express has a PID system (Proportional Integral Derived) that constantly monitors and adjusts the water temperature. This ensures that the brewhead remains at the correct temperature for extraction.

Many coffee drinkers are aware that the temperature of the espresso machine is crucial to brewing a perfect 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 properly sized.

It is also important to heat up your machine or portafilter before making a shot. Beginners who make espresso often make the mistake of not preheating their equipment. This is the reason why you should always go through the instruction manual prior to using your espresso maker for the first time.

Grind

A barista machine should offer you a variety of grind settings, so that you can have the most control over the final cup of espresso. Some machines have an analog gauge which looks cool and aids you improve your brewing abilities. Ideally, you want to get around nine bars of pressure and maintain this throughout the entire brewing process. This machine is close to getting to that point.

Another great feature of this machine is that it has a built-in burr grinder. This feature is great for beginners since it eliminates having to purchase an additional grinder. The grinder is a stainless steel conical device with 18 settings, ranging from "coarse" to "fine."

The grinder isn't the same as a standalone unit, however, it's a decent start and will put you well on your way to creating quality espresso shots. It's easy to clean and you can pause it during the grinding process, which helps you avoid creating a pile of ground that will fall over your portafilter while on its way to grinding.

This beautiful and functional machine will let you experience being a barista in your own home. It's an excellent choice for anyone who wants to to look back on the moments of pouring microfoam into their morning cup of joe by locking a portafilter to the grouphead, and then tamping with precision. If you're looking for convenience, a bean to cup machine might be a better choice.

Water

Water can be a tricky thing to master. Finding the right balance is vital. Too much can cause mineral deposits to develop in your machine. However, too little will result in an espresso cup that is weaker.

The perfect water for espresso is low in hardness and high in alkalinity. This is best achieved using an effective water filtering system that does away with chlorine and then adds back in a small amount of total dissolved solids (TDS) to add some calcium and magnesium to the mix. This will create an ideal balance of alkalinity as well as hardness. It will also prevent the necessity of decalcifying your equipment.

A high-quality, filtered water is crucial here to your machine's overall health as well as the taste of the coffee it makes. Descaling products must be regularly used, depending on the strength and use of your machine. These products come in liquid, powder and tab forms and can be found in the majority of hardware stores.

The Breville Barista Express, a luxury high-end home espresso machine, is designed to bring the café experience into your home. It comes with more advanced features than other beginner machines which are targeted at those who are looking to refine their technique and perfect their craft. The thermocoil heating mechanism with integrated PID controller, centered on the actively heated group head makes it easy to regulate your brewing temperature. This is a major advantage over other entry-level models that require longer "temperature surfing" to ensure an espresso shot that is consistent.