Well, all the restaurants and cafes have their own commercial espresso machine to make coffee-based drinks for their customers. Steamed milk is the most important ingredient in cappuccinos and lattes and the commercial espresso machines are often come with a steam wand that is used to steam milk.
However, there are several things as steps to remember though using a commercial espresso machine is as simple as that. Here we mean by the several important things are like right coffee and water ratio, grinding the bean properly, as well as pulling the shot for the correct amount of time.
How To Use A Commercial Espresso Machine: (Step-by-Step)
Well, we will discuss in detail about the processes of using a commercial espresso machine step by step here. So, let’s not waste your time anymore and jump into the article, shall we?
Get The Machine Ready
1. Fill The Water Reservoir
Use a separate container to pour the water into the reservoir. You can also remove the reservoir to fill water into it or use a cold water tap and run it for a minute. There are machines that come with water pip into the espresso machine directly. Check your machine if it has direct pip into the machine. In this case, you don’t require filling the reservoir.
2. Preheat Your Espresso Machine
Turn the power switch “ON” and leave at this position for 15 minutes minimum. You can get the power switch on the machine’s backsplash. In this little time, the machine will get time to heat the water and make the required pressure and easily force the water through the grounds.
Check the instructions of the manufacturers to know the correct preheating time. Because, Larger size espresso machines may need around 45 minutes to warm up.
3. Place Your Portafilter:
It is a handled cup component that help the espresso machine to hold the coffee grounds. Insert a filter basket into the basin to get ready your portafilter. From the bottom of the group head, insert your portafilter upward and to set the portafilter there, turn it to the right.
However, portafilters and filter baskets have several sizes. You need to choose the right filter baster and portafilter depending on what you prefer, it could be a single, double or triple shot of espresso.
4. Rinse & Dry The Portafilter
To rinse out old coffee, detergent or other particles – turn on the water once the portafilter is in place for a single shot. Now allow some time to pour it through the filter and group head.
Remove the portafilter when the water has finished. To do so, turn the handle to the left and pull it down to get out of the group head.
Use a clean towel to wipe the portafilter and group head dry. Place the portafilter again in the group head.
When you leave the portafilter in the locked position while the machine is ready to go, it helps the espresso machine not to lose the pressure and maintain the accurate temperature.
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Making An Espresso Shot
5. Make Right Measurement & Grind The Beans
You will require18 to 21 grams of coffee beans if you want to make a double shot of espresso. And the grind of the beans plays a very important role in a good espresso shot, right? So, try to grind the beans in the grinder until they become almost the same size as salt grains. Because a perfect espresso shot requires very fine coffee grounds which is almost similar to a powder.
Remove the portafilter and place the perfectly grinded beans and again place it to the group head.
6. Even & Tamp The Grounds
To level off the top, distribute the grounds using your finger. Use a bowl or knock box to brush extra grounds. Follow the steps to tamp the coffee and create a compressed espresso:
- To keep the portafilter in place – hook it onto the ledge of a counter.
- On the top of the grounds – place the tamper.
- Make sure your tamping arm is perpendicular to the floor (elbow is at a 90-degree angle.)
- And to create a level bed of espresso grounds – try 30 pounds of pressure to the tamper evenly.
- Check whether the espresso is flat or not after removing the tamper.
7. Pull The Shot of Espresso
Lock the portafilter in the group head and use a cup under the spout. And the moment you turn on the water, the water will go through the compressed coffee in the filter and you get a full cup of espresso. And the complete procedure should take up to 25 to 30 seconds.
8. Place The Shot To A Serving Glass
Now you can pour the cup with the espresso from where you poured the shot into. Before that make sure you stir it first if you do so. And if you plan to make a cappuccino, latte, or other espresso-based drinks then you should definitely do that or you can also transfer the shot to another cup for serving.
By following these steps, we are pretty sure that you would make a best espresso shot for yourself.
However, if you have any questions or suggestions then, please let us know. We would be happy to hear from you. Best of luck with your amazing espresso coffee 🙂