What to Look For in a Barista Espresso Machine

The espresso machine is one of the most intricate coffee machines in the world. It is comprised of three major components. The base holds the water and the middle is a filtration basin with a metal filter.

This machine was a huge success and helped spread the prosumer (home barista) espresso market. Its features include a low-pressure pre-infusion as well as a 2.2L boiler and the brewing pressure of 9 bars.

Pressure

If you're an avid coffee drinker, then you will know that the pressure of your machine is a major element in the quality of your beverages. You may be looking for a thick layer of crema or right balance of acidity and flavor, the pressure of your espresso maker is crucial to making perfect espresso.

BARs (Barometric Pressure) refer to the force that is applied to the grounds of your coffee when your espresso machine is delivering its high-pressure water. 9 bar espresso machine BARs mean that your espresso machine is forcing heated water through the coffee grounds at 9 times the Earth's current atmospheric pressure.

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

The pressure of your espresso machine can be adjusted by turning the screw located on the espresso pump. Commercial machines and high-end home machines come with pumps that rotate with adjustable pressure. For the cheaper home machines, which use a vibrating motor, it's not possible to alter the pressure without DIY hacks. Companies like Cafflano however, are working on technology that uses Pascal's Principle in order to maintain the pressure within the portafilter all through the fermentation process.

Temperature

Temperature is among the most important elements in the perfect espresso shot. If the water is too hot, it can heat the coffee grounds and create a bitter coffee. The optimal temperature for extraction is 200 degrees Fahrenheit. This lets the water to extract all the desired coffee flavors without scorching the grounds or over-extracting.

The best espresso machines have thermoblocks, also known as thermocoils, which heats water and maintains it at an even temperature throughout the extraction. The Breville Barista Express has a PID system (Proportional Integral Derived) that continuously monitors and adjusts the temperature of the water. This makes sure that the brewhead stays at the correct temperature for extraction.

Many similar resource site, water has an alkalinity and hardness that is low level. This is best accomplished by using an effective water filtering system that eliminates chlorine and brings back in a small amount of total dissolved solids (TDS) to add calcium and magnesium to the mix. This will give you an ideal balance between acidity and hardness and also avoid the need to decalcify.

Using a high-quality filter water is vital to your machine's longevity health as well as the flavor of the coffee it makes. Depending on the use and the hardness of your machine, you should use descaling products regularly. These products are available in powder, liquid or tab form at most hardware stores.

The Breville Barista Express is a high-end, premium espresso machine for home use that is designed to bring the experience of a cafe into the home. It comes with more advanced features than other beginner machines, and is designed for coffee enthusiasts who want refine their technique and perfect the craft. The thermocoil heater with an integrated PID controller, located on the group head which is heated continuously, makes it easy to regulate your brewing temperatures. This is a big advantage over other models at the entry level which will require you to spend long periods of "temperature-surfing" to achieve a consistent espresso shot.