It's not the most glamorous part of making good coffee, but the way you clean your equipment can have a serious effect on the taste and quality of the drinks you serve.

We often see irregular or DIY-style cleaning procedures result in unsanitary equipment or coffee that's tainted with the taste of mineral residue or coffee oils. Cleaning procedures that don't leave equipment sparkling clean can also shorten its lifespan, resulting in unnecessary repair and even replacements costs. 

The quality of an espresso shot is determined by myriad factors. Most people focus on the espresso machine and/or the quality of the coffee being used —both important, of course. However, the quality of the espresso grinder used in preparing a perfect shot of espresso is equally important.

Espresso requires a very fine, consistent coffee grind in order to brew correctly, and thus a specifically designed and engineered professional grinder. Other factors: choosing the correct size and model for speed, efficiency and consistent quality to keep up with your espresso machine during busy hours at your coffee shop or restaurant.

Serving espresso is a great way to increase sales, but there is a lot to consider when choosing an espresso machine that will meet your operation’s specific needs. The type of food service you do is probably the most important factor, followed by your daily customer traffic.

Your brewing equipment and grinders (and customers!) are counting on you to keep making your best coffee. Equipment maintenance is needed daily and weekly, plus a tune up every six months, to assure they run smoothly and turn out the best possible coffee.

In order to take advantage of that perfect espresso blend you just bought (or roasted), your espresso equipment—including brewing machine, grinder, and water filter—must be regularly maintained.

It may seem excessive or snobbish, but it would be a shame to take a premium specialty-roast coffee or a fine tea and brew it in regular old tap water. Coffee and tea are nearly 99 percent water, making good water quality essential to the final product.