by Fenton Wayne
Deciding on the best type of espresso system for
your catering business is not a simple task. Here we
discuss the benefits and limitations of each type of
system so you can make an informed decision.
There are other types of coffee machine available
too, such as the filter
coffee
machine, pod machine or instant coffee machine, but
these are not considered in this article as they
cannot produce 'proper' speciality coffee drinks
such as latte, espresso, ristretto
etc.
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The basis of all luxury speciality
coffee drinks is
the espresso which both our systems
produce. This is made by passing hot
water under pressure through a wad
of ground coffee, to produce short,
strong and concentrated coffee
liquor. When the espresso shot is
blended with foamed or steamed milk
then most popular types of specialty
coffee drinks such
as cappuccino, latte, macchiato can
be made.
Both the traditional espresso
machine and the bean to cup machine
are able to produce espresso shots
and foamed milk.
Firstly we will consider overall
drink quality. Here the traditional
espresso machine comes out on top.
This is assuming that the operator
(barista) is well trained and both
types of equipment are clean and
well-maintained. |
An espresso based drink produced on a traditional
espresso machine and prepared by a top barista is
the best you can get!
Coffee
beverages made from a bean to cup machine are very
good, but don't quite make it to the standard set by
a traditional system.
Secondly when considering the consistency of the
final beverage the bean to cup machine would usually
win. The quality of drink from a traditional
espresso machine depends on the barista and his
frame of mind at the time and so can vary greatly.
Bean to cup machines however produces the same drink
at the push of a button and is not dependent on the
operator.
Thirdly, ease of use. Here again the fully automatic
bean to cup machine comes out on top as most drinks
are prepared by the push of a button. To prepare and
serve a quality beverage from a traditional espresso
machine is a skilled art and takes considerable
practise to master.
Fourthly to consider is 'theatre' or ambience of the
drink preparation. Whilst a bean to cup machine is
purely a functional device to produce a quality
beverage, the traditional espresso machine adds that
special magic to the whole coffee experience.
Customers can enjoy the overall coffee experience as
they watch the skilled barista at work.
More
Information...
Our of our four criteria, you will notice that both
have 2 wins each, so choose whatever best suits your
set-up. Decide which the most important factors are
in your particular case before contacting your local
coffee machine supplier.
Enjoy.
About the Author
For more information about bean to cup coffee
machines , espresso machines and cappuccino systems
visit
http://www.cafebar.co.uk
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