Types of Espresso Machines

In addition to choosing the best espresso maker, ensure you have all the equipment and accessories you need to craft specialty coffee drinks!

• Coffee Bean Grinder: If your unit does not come with a grinder, investing in a coffee bean grinder to grind beans to your desired grind size just before brewing ensures your prepared drinks will taste as fresh as possible.
• Coffee Bean Roaster: A commercial coffee roaster machine allows you to roast coffee beans to the precise roast darkness of your choice to customize your drink menu. By bringing coffee roasting in-house, you are able to have more control over the coffee you sell and ensure superior, fresh products.
• Milk Frothers and Steamers: If your unit does not come with a frothing wand, investing in a milk steamer to make foamed milk for latte art can help enhance the perceived value of your coffee drinks.
• Portafilter: Most often included with a unit, a portafilter is a handle that features a filter basket where you place your ground espresso beans. This is also where the water from the group head runs through.
• Frothing Pitcher: Frothing pitchers are ideal vessels for steaming and frothing milk or cream. They feature an angled handle and smooth-rimmed spout for precise pouring when creating latte art.
• Frothing Thermometer: Using a frothing thermometer will help you monitor the temperature of the milk to prevent you from over-steaming and curdling it.
• Espresso Knock Box: Use a knock box to collect used espresso grounds from the portafilter. They feature a knock bar that provides the perfect surface for "knocking out" spent coffee.
• Espresso Tamper: Espresso tampers are a handy tool for flattening and leveling the espresso grounds in your portafilter.
• Water Appliance Connector: A water supply connector guarantees your direct connect espresso machine is properly connected to your water line.
• Water Filtration System: Water filtration systems block contaminants to help keep your beverages tasting great. They help prevent scale, sediment, cysts, and other contaminants from clogging the internal components of your direct connect espresso machine to extend the life of your unit.
• Espresso Machine Cleaner: It is important to use commercial espresso machine cleaners to eliminate buildup in your unit. Daily and weekly cleaning of the parts are essential for performance, and your unit should be descaled every 3 to 6 months, depending on the quality of your water.
• Espresso Cleaning Brush: Espresso cleaning brushes feature tightly wound yet gentle bristles remove residue sitting in hard-to-reach places on the grouphead that would otherwise affect the taste of your espresso.