Barista Magazine

FEB-MAR 2018

Serving People Serving Coffee Since 2005

Issue link: http://baristamagazine.epubxp.com/i/931664

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93 www.baristamagazine.com place to protect your pump and equipment. For electrical, I think having a small subpanel on board that feeds a few different outlets for your equip- ment is the best way to go. This will help you avoid having to run multiple extension cords to supply power for everything. Choose your equipment wisely: You want to fi nd an espresso machine that doesn't draw too much power, but will keep up during busy periods. Having a small drip brewer available is also super helpful—not only for the obvious fi lter coffee option, but having that additional hot water at the ready will help you with Americanos and tea orders. A pitcher rinser is another invaluable tool on a cart! I recommend that if you're using one, make sure it has its own waste tank. That way you won't be running to dump the waste tank every 10 minutes. There's so much more, but I'll leave it at that for now. I'll chat with our beloved editors about letting me go full HAM with a coffee-cart article. —Double J When changing the grind size on my espresso grinder, should we be grinding as we move the adjustment collar? Defi nitely. Especially if you are moving to a fi ner setting. Not running while adjusting fi ner can result in a jammed grinder, particularly if your burrs are getting dull. —Alex Do you think steam-wand cleaners are a good idea? Yes! —Double J I concur! —Alex How do I get all my group handles to line up at the same angle? When machines are new, the portafi lters all go to the same spot. Over time, most shops tend to favor one or two groups over the others (usually the one or two closest to the grinders). This causes the metal ears on the portafi l- ters and the clamp ring that holds them in the espresso machine to wear out at different rates. Most espresso machine manufacturers sell gaskets with different thicknesses to compensate for this, al- though in this case I would say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Try to use all your groups equally if you can. Some shops will even designate a different group to be the main one so the baristas know to use that far group fi rst every few days. —Alex You know it's time to change the silicone [gasket] when they eventually become so soft that the portafilter pushes over beyond what might feel comfortable.

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