Have you ever wondered why espresso from a coffee shop tastes better than your home? In fact, the taste of espresso is largely determined by the bar pressure of the espresso machine. Therefore, there will be a difference because the coffee shop staff’s bar pressure may differ from the bar pressure of your home espresso machine.
If you own an espresso machine, you may see numbers like 1, 9, 15, or 20 bar. So what is 1 bar 15 bar espresso machine? What bar pressure level will create a perfect cup of espresso? Let’s find out with Coffee Xpresso right after this!
What is 1 Bar 15 Bar Espresso Machine?
A bar is a unit used to measure pressure. 1 bar is the atmospheric pressure of the Earth at an altitude of 111 meters, equivalent to 14.5 psi. So 15 bar is equivalent to 217.5 psi.
Bar pressure is an important parameter of an espresso machine. Espresso is created by forcing hot water under pressure through ground coffee contained in the machine’s coffee filter. So 1 bar means that the coffee machine will use a pressure level of 14.5 psi to compress the coffee and create espresso. Similarly, 15 bar means that the machine will use 15 times the pressure level, about 217.5 psi to create espresso.
In addition to 1 bar and 15 bar, espresso machines also have many other bar pressure levels such as 7 bar, 9 bar, or 20 bar. Each bar pressure level will have a different effect on the flavor of espresso.
How does Bar Pressure Affect Your Coffee?
To help you better understand what is a 1 bar 15 bar espresso machine, let’s take a look at how pressure affects your espresso shots.
Flavor
Because espresso extraction is made by water and pressure passing through ground coffee, the pressure level will greatly affect the flavor of the coffee. Many people mistakenly believe that the higher the pressure level, the better the espresso will be. However, the truth is not like that.
Too high or too low pressure will “ruin” your espresso. If the pressure is too low, the coffee will not be extracted enough, making the coffee flavor bland or unbalanced. On the contrary, if the pressure level is too high, the coffee will be “over-extracted”. At that time, the espresso will be bitter or sour. Therefore, choosing the right pressure level will help you create the perfect cup of espresso.
Crema
In addition, if you are an espresso lover, you are probably no stranger to “crema”. Crema is a layer of fine, golden-brown foam that floats on top of the espresso after extraction. A thick, smooth, and beautiful layer of crema is a sign of a perfect espresso. And the secret to a beautiful layer of crema is low pressure.
Usually, an espresso machine with a pressure level of about 7 bar to 9 bar will be able to create a beautiful layer of crema. However, the layer of crema also depends on many factors such as the type of coffee used or the level of compression.
What’s the Ideal Pressure for a Perfect Espresso?
If you understand what is 1 bar 15 bar espresso machines, then: what is the bar pressure to make a perfect espresso? The ideal pressure level to make a delicious espresso is 9 bar. This is the pressure level often used by professional coffee shops.
9 bar pressure will help extract the best coffee, achieving a balance without being weak or bitter. In addition, coffee shops often use air pumps rather than steam to create the right pressure.
However, 9 bar is just a recommendation and not the exact answer for a perfect espresso. Because the taste of espresso depends on many factors such as coffee type, compression level, water temperature,…
What Makes a Good Espresso Machine?
Finally, Coffee Xpresso will provide some useful tips for you to choose the best bar espresso machines for you. Currently on the market, there are 2 types of espresso machines: manual and automatic. Which type is better will depend mainly on your needs and preferences.
Manual Espresso Machine
Manual machines are the oldest type of espresso machine, more difficult to use and require more technique. With a manual espresso machine, you will have to do everything yourself from grinding coffee beans, boiling water, tamping coffee to pulling the lever to create pressure.
Manual machines are more complicated because you will not be able to choose the pressure level but have to pull the lever yourself to create the right pressure. Therefore, it is difficult to create the right pressure level for espresso with this type of machine. Manual espresso machines are often preferred by espresso enthusiasts or those who want to learn more manual brewing skills.
Automatic Espresso Machines
The opposite of a manual machine is an automatic espresso machine. There are two types of automatic espresso machines: semi-automatic and automatic.
With a semi-automatic espresso machine, you will have to grind and tamp the coffee yourself. Then you just need to select the pressure level and wait for your espresso. Although the process is more simplified than a manual espresso machine, you will still have to grind and tamp the coffee yourself.
Meanwhile, if you own a fully automatic espresso machine, everything will be simpler and faster than ever. You just need to put the coffee and water in the machine, then wait. You do not need to grind, do not need to tamp, and do not need to push the lever. You just need to select the functions and the espresso machine will do it all automatically.
Wrap Up
Now you have the answer to what is 1 bar 15 bar espresso machine, right? Bar here refers to the pressure level that the espresso machine will use to push water through the ground coffee to create an espresso shot. 1 bar will be equivalent to about 14.5 psi and 15 bar will be equivalent to about 217.5 psi.
The bar pressure level will strongly affect the flavor of the espresso. Too low or too high pressure can make your espresso no longer delicious. Therefore, you should choose a balanced pressure level of about 9 bar to create a perfect espresso with a beautiful layer of crema. Good luck with your delicious espresso!
FAQs
Maybe. 15 bar is the maximum pressure setting of some espresso machines. As we mentioned above, too high a pressure setting can result in bitter or sour espresso.
No. According to espresso experts, 9 bar is the ideal pressure level for making a good shot of espresso. Espresso is best made at 9 bar or lower. You can use quality machines with high-pressure valves to release excess pressure.
While other coffee shops typically use Breville or Nuova Simonelli espresso machines, Starbucks uses Mastrena espresso machines. The Mastrena espresso machine line is exclusive to the Starbucks brand.
