Hey coffee lovers! Jimmy here from Artisti Coffee Roasters, bringing you another essential guide to perfecting your coffee craft. Today, we’re diving into three common mistakes that many cafes are making and how you can avoid them to ensure you’re serving the best coffee possible.
1. Tapping the Basket with Your Tamp
One of the most frequent mistakes is tapping the basket with the tamp after leveling the coffee grounds. Here’s why you should stop:
- Physical Damage: Tapping can damage your tamp, baskets, and group heads, leading to costly repairs and replacements.
- Channeling Issues: Tapping creates cracks in the coffee puck, allowing water to flow through these weak spots instead of evenly through the coffee. This results in uneven extraction, reducing the quality and consistency of your coffee.
Solution: Focus on a consistent tamping technique without tapping. This will preserve the integrity of your coffee puck and improve your extraction results.
2. Reheating Milk
Reheating milk is a big no-no in the coffee world. Here’s why:
- Health Risks: Milk left in jugs and reheated can sit within the danger zone of 5-60°C, promoting bacterial growth.
- Quality Reduction: Reheating milk compromises its proteins and sugars. The result? A flat, less flavorful coffee. Once milk is heated, its structure changes and can't be restructured properly by reheating.
Solution: Invest in a jug rinser and focus on accurate milk portioning to reduce wastage. This ensures every cup of coffee you serve is made with fresh milk, delivering the best possible flavor.
3. Leaving Group Handles Out of the Machine
Another common mistake is leaving group handles out of the machine, which can lead to temperature inconsistencies:
- Cold Handles: Cold group handles can lower the temperature of the water passing through the coffee puck, affecting the extraction process and, ultimately, the flavor of the coffee.
Solution: Always place your group handles back into the machine after cleaning or flushing. Keeping them warm ensures consistent extraction temperatures, which is crucial for a balanced and flavorful espresso.
Conclusion
By avoiding these common mistakes—tapping the basket, reheating milk, and leaving group handles out—you can significantly enhance the quality of your coffee. Remember, attention to detail is key in crafting the perfect cup.
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