If you're the proud owner/manager of a busy cafe, chances are you've run into your fair share of issues with your commercial coffee machine. From broken pumps to clogged milk lines, it can sometimes feel like there's nothing you can do to keep your coffee machine running smoothly. There’s really no way to buy commercial coffee machines in NSW without running into problems every once in a while.
In this blog post though, we'll walk you through some common issues and how to troubleshoot them so you can get your cafe up and running in no time.
Issue #1: The coffee tastes burnt/bitter
If the coffee coming out of your machine is tasting burnt or bitter, there are a few possible causes. First, check to see if the beans are fresh - if they've been sitting around for a while, they might be past their prime and causing the coffee to taste off. Second, check the grind size. If the grind is too fine, it can cause the coffee to taste bitter. And finally, check the water temperature, because if the water is too hot, it can also make the coffee taste burnt.
To fix this issue, start by grinding fresher beans. If that doesn’t work, try adjusting the grind size until you find a happy medium. And finally, if all else fails, experiment with the water temperature until you find a setting that produces coffee that tastes just right.
Issue #2: There’s no steam coming out of the wand
If there's no steam coming out of the wand when you try to froth milk, it could be due to a few different things.
· First, check to see if the steam knob is turned on - it sounds obvious, but sometimes things get turned off by accident and it's easy to overlook something like that.
· Second, check the water level in the machine. If it's low, it won't be able to produce enough steam to froth milk properly.
· Finally, check the wand itself for any blockages - if there's anything blocking the opening, it won't be able to produce steam properly either.
To fix this issue, start by turning on the steam knob (if it's not already on). If that doesn't work, add more water to the machine until it reaches the maximum fill line. And finally, if there's anything blocking the wand opening (like milk residue), give it a good cleaning and try again.
Issue #3: The espresso shots are coming out weak or watery
If your espresso shots are coming out weak or watery, there are two possible causes: either the grind is too coarse or the tamp is too light. First, check the grind size, because if it's too coarse, it will result in weak shots. Second, check how much pressure you're using when tamping down the grounds - if it's not enough, it will also result in weak shots.
To fix this issue, start by adjusting the grind size until you find a setting that produces strong shots. If that doesn't work, try tamping down with a little more pressure until you find a sweet spot where the espresso comes out strong but not over-extracted.
We hope this guide has helped you troubleshoot some of the most common issues with commercial coffee machines
Coffee machines are like cars – there’s a lot of sophisticated components working together, and sometimes they can just be temperamental. Remember to check the filters, heating element, seals and gaskets, and tubing for any problems, and clean or replace them as needed. With a little bit of preventative maintenance, you can keep your coffee machine running smoothly for years to come!
