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Espresso Machine Technician
About the role of an espresso machine technician and why it is needed.
Published December 20, 2021
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Erik Hedlund
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
A recent survey carried out by the National Coffee Association found that Americans are drinking more coffee than ever before, with the average person spending more than a thousand dollars on coffee every year. Almost 80% of the people surveyed said that they make coffee at home, but the growing popularity of local coffee shops and large coffee shop chains like Starbucks means that there is a strong and growing demand for espresso machine repair technicians.
Espresso Machine Technician Job Description
An espresso technician performs a range of tasks on machines in commercial environments such as coffee shops, cafes, and restaurants. These include the installation of coffee machines, maintenance, and repair services. Some technicians will also perform this work on residential customers who are willing to bring their machines into a shop. A technician is often needed to install the wiring and tubing that is necessary to operate a commercial espresso machine. They regulate the pressure, temperature, and volumetric doses, and choose the correct filter for the individual machine, which requires a keen understanding of water characteristics like hardness and alkalinity. Technicians may also be responsible for the routine maintenance of espresso machines including descaling and replacing parts such as shower heads, gaskets, and coffee grinder burrs.
Educational Requirements
To enroll in an espresso machine repair training program, there will not usually be any formal education required, although some will only take on students with a minimum of a GED. The certified espresso machine technician training will cover hands-on repairs along with learning more about the science regarding the extraction of espresso, making it easier for technicians to better communicate with coffee shop owners and baristas in terms of discussing the use and maintenance of the espresso machine. Certification is not a legal requirement and there are no licensing requirements at the state level to work as an espresso machine technician. However, certification will usually make it easier for technicians to find employment.
Where Can You Find Training Programs?
There are various schools and academies where technicians can undergo espresso technician training to become a basic or advanced espresso machine technician, including the International Barista Coffee Academy in Arizona, which offers a range of programs from one-day basic courses covering troubleshooting and repair for a range of different coffee machine types to three-day advanced programs where students will learn everything that is covered in the basic class along with electronics, hydraulic circuitry in automatic and semi-automatic espresso machines, resources for systems, machines and parts, and how to make espresso and froth milk. The advanced course allows students to get more hands-on, with the option to take a commercial espresso machine apart to study the individual components, electronics and electrical systems, hydraulics, and troubleshooting. There is also a five-day intensive espresso machine maintenance program, which covers everything that is included in the advanced program along with a full day of field experience, where students shadow a qualified espresso machine technician on at least three service calls in the local area.
Students can get credentials at the International Barista Coffee Academy from the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe. Along with the coffee machine maintenance and repair courses on offer, you can also find a wide range of further courses in coffee that you may be interested in taking such as certifications in roasting, brewing, cupping, and barista skills. While it is not a requirement, multiple coffee certifications can help you get further as a repair technician due to providing you with a more well-rounded knowledge of the coffee industry as a whole.
If you want to travel abroad to study, another great option to consider is the Espresso Academy in Florence, Italy. Here you can find a two-day espresso machine course that covers all the aspects of troubleshooting, repair, and maintenance. You can also take an optional third day of the course where you will learn how to service home espresso machines.
If you are unable to attend training courses, another option that many espresso machine service and repair technicians will go for is on-the-job training. This will usually be offered after you have trained as a barista, so if you are already working in the coffee industry, consider asking your employer to help with training.
Brand-Specific Training Courses
You may also want to consider brand-specific coffee machine technician training such as Nuova Simonelli tech support, which is designed to prepare students to become more familiar with certain brands of coffee machine. Typically, espresso machine repair technicians will only maintain and repair espresso machines that they have a specific knowledge of, and this can be quite limiting if you are just starting out after taking a training program that did not cover all the different brands of espresso machines. While most general training programs do prepare you for working with the most popular machines, taking brand-specific training courses can help you take your knowledge further with problem troubleshooting, installation techniques, and parts and maintenance on certain brands of espresso machines.
Espresso Machine Technician Work Environment
Technicians will need to be able to travel to a range of commercial locations throughout their working day in order to service espresso machines, so this is a job that requires some moving around and you will need to have reliable transportation. Once at a commercial location, you may need to be able to work in a tight space and perform your services while the establishment is in the process of serving customers, which will mean working around baristas and other coffee shop staff. You will need to be prepared for the physical aspect of this job which could involve kneeling, bending, and heavy lifting of equipment and parts.
Job Outlook and Earnings
In general, a coffee machine technician can expect to make around $12-$30 per hour, depending on several factors including where they are located. In areas where the cost of living is higher, you can typically expect to be paid more for this job.
Why Are Espresso Machine Maintenance and Repair Technicians Needed?
Espresso machines can be overused or even misused over time, which can lead to a lot of problems. Just like other machines and appliances that are used in home or commercial settings, regular professional maintenance is key to making sure that the coffee machine is still able to create the best tasting coffee for customers. In a commercial setting, great-tasting coffee will have a direct impact on the reputation of the business and the customer satisfaction levels, which is just one of the main reasons why good, professional, and regular maintenance and repairs are crucial. Coffee beans rely on machines that are in good working order, and coffee that is made using a damaged machine can taste awful.
How Often Do Espresso Machines Need Servicing?
As long as people are still enjoying coffee from their local coffee shop or a coffee shop chain, espresso machine service and repair technicians are going to be in high demand, since there is no getting away from the fact that all espresso machines will need to be serviced from time to time. While there is a lot that baristas, coffee shop owners and other professionals in this work environment can do to keep the machine working well and producing great coffee, espresso machine servicing is required on a regular basis, even if the machine seems to be working well. Servicing ensures that certain components of the machine do not break down over time, which tends to happen naturally regardless of how well you keep the machine clean or look after it. Water filters, for example, have a limited lifespan even when they are kept in good condition, so a service that involves updating the filters will continuously ensure that a coffee shop is always using the best quality water for the coffee drinks that they make. Servicing every twelve months is the industry standard, which is followed by the majority of commercial settings.
Why Coffee Shops Need a Repair Technician
Today, customers expect to be able to get the coffee that they want in a short amount of time when they visit their local coffee shop or chain. They will also expect the coffee to be consistent every time. Problems with the espresso machine can cause huge issues for a coffee shop as a business, and all coffee shops – whether large chains or local small businesses – need to be able to quickly call out a technician who can troubleshoot the machine and solve the problem with as little downtime as possible. For some coffee shops that only have one machine, a problem with it could mean that they are unable to serve the majority of their menu, which can lead to a serious loss of profit until the machine is repaired. But even for larger businesses that might operate multiple espresso machines, just one machine being out of use means that it may take them longer to serve customers and struggle to keep up with the demand until the machine is back in working order.
If you want a job that allows you to travel to different places, meet new people, work with your hands, and enjoy high demand, a role as an espresso machine repair and maintenance technician might be ideal for you.
About the author
Erik Hedlund
With Era of We and The Coffee Lab, I hope to share knowledge, increase the value of coffee – and secure the future of coffee.
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