If you’re new to the world of professional espresso brewing, you might be confused by the phrase dual boilers. A dual boiler espresso machine has its benefits, but someone new to the coffee world might now know them. Here’s all the basic information you need to know about dual boilers, also known as double boilers, when shopping for an espresso machine.
Boilers
You might be wondering, what is a boiler? In the world of espresso, a boiler is a metal cylinder that holds water. They’re most commonly made of copper, brass, or stainless steel. They hold water inside your espresso machine and heat it up with some kind of heating element. Once they heat the water, they hold it at a set temperature. When water is needed from the boiler, it streams out and more water is added.
Faster Brewing
One of the major benefits of dual boilers is that water is always hot and ready for various uses. One boiler is typically dedicated to brewing espresso while the other is for steam and hot water. With one boiler, the barista has to switch the temperature of the boiler for these uses, which means waiting between brewing espresso and steaming milk.
Dual boilers allow for a higher, faster volume of drinks due to no wait time in switching boilers. You can use both boilers simultaneously, so you can brew your espresso while preparing the milk for your favorite espresso drink.
Size and Cost
Dual boiler espresso machines make amazing espresso when used properly, but the factors that might prevent you from getting one are out of your control. Having two boilers instead of one means that the machine has to be bigger. A bigger machine needs more space, and might not be a good option for a small shop.
Dual boiler machines are also expensive. There aren’t many low-end models on the market, so if you want double boilers, you have to hand over the cash for a high-quality machine.
