Commercial Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine User Guide

With the growing popularity of coffee culture, more and more people have fallen in love with this remarkable beverage. Whenever they find their focus waning or start feeling drowsy, they'll treat themselves to a cup of coffee. This way, they can refresh their minds while satisfying their taste buds—it's simply the best of both worlds.

However, many friends have discovered that their demand for coffee continues to grow, and one cup per day is no longer enough to meet their needs. Coffee has become integrated into their daily routines, requiring more cups to satisfy their cravings. Therefore, to reduce coffee expenses, and with major shopping festivals approaching, many people plan to purchase a coffee machine. This way, they can enjoy fresh, ground coffee anytime while saving significant amounts of money.

But when shopping online, beyond the coffee machine's price and brand, most friends encounter an unexpected dilemma: should they buy a fully automatic or semi-automatic coffee machine?

Since most people have never really used a coffee machine, their understanding remains limited to it being just a device for extracting espresso, without realizing the distinction between full and semi-automatic. But that's okay—today FrontStreet Coffee will share with everyone the differences between semi-automatic and fully automatic coffee machines, and how to choose between them!

What is a Semi-Automatic Coffee Machine?

Generally speaking, the vast majority of coffee machines used in independent coffee shops and those we commonly refer to are semi-automatic coffee machines.

A so-called semi-automatic coffee machine means that the coffee extraction "process" cannot be completed independently by the machine—it requires our full manual assistance and hands-on operation throughout. From grinding the coffee beans to loading them into the portafilter, then locking the portafilter into the machine for extraction, everything requires our own handling. The coffee machine merely provides the extraction functionality.

Additionally, if we want to make milk-based coffee, we also need to froth the milk! Similarly, this requires human control over the foam thickness and milk temperature. In short, everything must be done personally.

Furthermore! After each extraction is complete, we also need to clean the coffee machine's extraction area, otherwise, over time, it will negatively affect both the coffee's taste and the machine's condition.

What is a Fully Automatic Coffee Machine?

Hey! This is simple—a fully automatic coffee machine means that after we press the corresponding function button, the machine will automatically complete the task. For example, pressing the espresso extraction button will cause the machine to grind and extract according to preset values! And humans only need to wait quietly for the coffee preparation to finish.

Even for making milk-based coffee, the machine can complete it with one touch—automatically heating milk, automatically frothing foam, without requiring human involvement. Therefore, fully automatic means a coffee machine that can complete extraction entirely by itself! Then we only need to regularly clean the coffee grounds container and extraction chamber. There's no need to clean after every extraction like with semi-automatic machines.

How Should You Choose?

Due to the different types, there's no absolute better or worse choice. When choosing, we only need to select the suitable machine based on our own needs! (Although FrontStreet Coffee still recommends semi-automatic coffee machines more)

The advantages of fully automatic coffee machines are simplicity, convenience, and low operational barriers. If you don't want to deal with complicated operations, don't have high requirements for taste, or don't want to deeply learn about coffee extraction (just want to satisfy your coffee addiction), then a fully automatic coffee machine would be an excellent choice. Because the machine can handle everything for you, making it extremely convenient.

But the disadvantages are also obvious—lack of flexibility and difficulty in making adjustments. Even at lower price points, many functions of the machine cannot be adjusted, such as grinding. Therefore, with limited functionality, the quality of a cup of coffee depends entirely on the compatibility between the beans and the machine.

The reason coffee shops need to calibrate every morning is because beans constantly change daily, and these changes affect the daily coffee taste, requiring adjustments through morning espresso calibration.

And many fully automatic machines cannot make these corrections because they lack the corresponding functions. That's why FrontStreet Coffee says that only if you don't have high requirements for coffee taste should you consider purchasing a fully automatic coffee machine. Or, places like offices that provide coffee to many people would equip fully automatic machines. If you have requirements for taste, then choosing a semi-automatic coffee machine is most appropriate~

The flexibility and upper limit of semi-automatic machines are very high, after all, the entire process requires personal completion. While complicated operation is indeed a disadvantage, precisely because of this, we can adjust parameters at any time to create perfect coffee in ideal conditions.

Correspondingly, when purchasing, we need to start learning about coffee extraction knowledge. Because although semi-automatic machines have a high ceiling, their floor can also be very low. But if we master coffee extraction, then making a delicious cup of coffee anytime becomes incredibly simple!

How to Use a Semi-Automatic Coffee Machine to Make an Iced Americano?

Many coffee enthusiasts who visit FrontStreet Coffee express admiration for the baristas operating the coffee machines at the counter, curious about how to operate seemingly complex coffee machines. In reality, what baristas have mastered are just the detailed steps of making espresso, and most baristas don't know how the coffee machine actually works. So today, FrontStreet Coffee will introduce everyone to the detailed process of making espresso! Taking FrontStreet Coffee's normal operating procedure as an example:

Step 1: Wipe the portafilter, ensuring the coffee portafilter is dry and water-free

Step 2: Weigh coffee beans, use an electronic scale to measure the appropriate amount of coffee grounds, controlling the error within ±0.1 grams

Step 3: Distribute the coffee grounds

Step 4: Tamp the coffee grounds

Step 5: Lock the portafilter into place

Step 6: Press the extraction button

Step 7: Remove the portafilter and clean the group head

FrontStreet Coffee's recommended espresso extraction recipe: 20g coffee dose, extract 40g espresso liquid, time 30 seconds

And just like that, a shot of espresso extraction is complete. For those accustomed to drinking iced Americano, at this point, simply prepare a 300ml coffee cup, add 90g of ice cubes and 100g of drinking water, and finally pour in the espresso to complete the preparation.

If you want to make other coffee beverages, it's actually not difficult—you just need to add sugar and milk. The preparation of iced coffee is relatively simpler, essentially adding hot espresso to cold milk.

As for hot milk coffee, you'll need to use the steam wand on the coffee machine. Regarding how to froth milk, FrontStreet Coffee has also written dedicated articles for teaching. If needed, everyone can look them up. It's worth mentioning that many coffee chain brands now use fully automatic coffee machines, making their operation even simpler—just press a button.

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473