astra espresso machine review

An Honest Look Into The Astra Espresso Machine (Review)

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There’s nothing more satisfying than the taste of a quick and delightful hot beverage, and the Astra espresso machine can help you achieve just that. So, let’s dive into a review of the Astra espresso machine.

Maybe you own a coffee shop, or perhaps you’re just in need of a reliable espresso machine. You might not even be a barista and likely live miles away from the nearest quality espresso drink. Regardless of your circumstance, you’ll need a decent espresso machine to make some espresso at home.

Whether your espresso needs are commercial or domestic, the Astra Espresso machine can work for you. The Astra Espresso is a type of espresso machine built to produce a lot. Thus, there’s no delay even when you have a bunch of individuals at your table that need a cup of coffee.

This espresso machine is relatively easy to operate and offers excellent features that give you adequate control over how your beverage should be brewed. So, come along, and let’s delve deeper into the Astra espresso machine.

Espresso Machines: A Brief Intro 

When we talk about an espresso machine, we’re referring to an appliance capable of producing the coffee drink known as espresso. This beverage is a traditional Italian coffee.

The machine uses water that has been pressurized and brought close to its boiling point. So, the pressurized water brews the coffee grounds through a metal filter, leaving a ‘puck’ of ground coffee behind. On the other end, in your cup, is left the concentrated coffee we call ‘espresso.’

Are you a barista that owns a coffee shop? Or you’re simply looking to enjoy a perfect shot of espresso in the comfort of your home? Do you know how to make top-notch espresso to keep your customers or friends coming back? We’ll offer tips for making excellent espresso for your customers and guests.

Top-Notch Espresso Tips

Excellent espresso may take some time and effort. You’ll need the right ingredients (such as coffee beans and a brewing recipe), a reliable and clean espresso machine (from Astra), and a grinder. You will also need a bit of knowledge on how to make espresso.

Here is an excellent resource for further reading on improving your espresso knowledge. 

Clean The Portafilter

First, your ‘portafilter’ must be adequately cleaned. The portafilter is the detachable metal handle that house the filter. We don’t want any moisture or leftover grounds inside the portafilter because it can interfere with the future taste of your espresso. Leftover grounds and moisture in the portafilter can give subsequent espressos a bitter or sour taste.

The Dose Makes The Coffee

If you’re using an automatic grinder, it’s as easy as pushing a button with your portafilter or hand. Then the device will produce the pre-set amount of ground coffee. Depending on the grinder, this will be done by weight or volume. 

However, if you’d like a more professional measurement, you should use a scale to pick the dose before moving forward. This will ensure you get an accurate amount for correctly extracting the coffee into espresso. With precise measurements, you won’t use too much or too little.

Distribute The Grounds

Your grinder should dose the grounds into the basket of the portafilter into a mountain or pyramid shape. At this point, there is an uneven distribution of the coffee.

A portion of the portafilter basket will have more coffee, and some other parts will have less if proper distribution isn’t done before tamping (compressing the grounds in the portafilter before reinserting into the machine). If the coffee grounds are not distributed evenly, the water will not pass through evenly, negatively impacting the extraction process. Some professionals use a tool specifically for distribution, but a finger works too.

Distribution tools are helpful and can enhance the consistency of your espresso and its extraction.

Even & Consistent Tamping

Tamping is done to eliminate any air pockets that might be present in the coffee puck. Simply compress the coffee firmly into the portafilter until the grounds have formed an even puck.

Ensure the puck is horizontally leveled to help avoid ‘channeling.’ Channeling is when the water does not pass through the coffee evenly but bursts through a tiny hole (or channel), resulting in uneven extraction.

Rinse The Group Head

The group head is the part of the espresso machine into which the portafilter is locked. We recommend you rinse the group head before reinserting the portafilter, which will prevent unnecessary residue from building up in the machine over time.

When you rinse the group head, you are also effectively preheating the machine for brewing which can optimize coffee extraction.

Lock-In The Portafilter & Brew!

Once you’re done rinsing the group head, insert the portafilter into its group head and start brewing! 

Don’t let the portafilter sit inside the group head for more than a few seconds before brewing– the passive heat and moisture can affect the extraction process. If you don’t start brewing almost immediately, you might end up with a more bitter cup of coffee.

Two Important Factors: Time & Output 

As you’re brewing your espresso, ensure you give special attention to the brew duration. Keep an eye on the brewing time if you’re using a volumetric machine. If you notice a quicker extraction time (under-extraction) or a longer extraction time (over-extraction), you might want to try again. Always check the grind size and the dose, too.

For manual espresso machines, also monitor your yield. Note that if the espresso runs too fast, it can become diluted and weak. Or if it takes too long, it can become over-extracted. 

How long an espresso should take to brew depends on several factors that will require a bit more research beyond this article. The machine, coffee, grinder, and even your preference will all contribute to the ideal brewing time.

Friendly serving

Once you’ve ‘dialed in’ your brewing recipe and diligently followed the steps above, you should be well on your way to a delicious shot of espresso. 

You can teach your customers or guests about the coffee you’re using and the flavor notes they might experience in their espresso. 

Toss The puck, Clean The Basket, & Rinse The Group Head

Throw out the used coffee puck into the trash– or compost it! The portafilter basket should be cleaned from any old coffee and moisture. Then the group head should be rinsed and cleaned, after which you can insert the portafilter back into the group head.

Astra Espresso Machine Review

Alright, now that we’ve gotten some espresso basics out of the way, let’s take a look more specifically at the Astra Espresso Machine. Below we’ve reviewed two espresso machines by Astra. Continue reading to learn about their numerous features and how they might suit your needs.

Astra Mega: Semi-Automatic Commercial Espresso Machine

The Astra Mega is an excellent option for your coffee shop and enables baristas to craft high-quality espresso drinks. It is stainless steel and features a cool-touch steam wand and manual hot water controls.

This espresso machine is handcrafted in the United States with top-notch US-standard materials. It’s designed with modular components and intuitive features that offer easy installation, and it is simple to operate and maintain.

The Astra Mega Espresso Machine also features a high-density group head, a self-tamping mechanism, and a manual dosing component. A non-tamping option is also available for this espresso machine if you prefer to do so manually.

The machine also offers a temperature-stabilizing thermocycling system. This espresso machine is manufactured from commercial components, including a “full-sized rotary vane Procon pump” and Astra’s circular brewing mechanism. It also includes a 7-liter boiler and a 2700-watt (220V) or 2000-watt (110V) heating element.

The thermocycling system gives you precise temperature consistency, delivering a near-perfect cup every time. It has a 5′ power cord and brass fittings for sustained longevity.

Some other components and features include the group head, a steam wand, a hot water valve, a plumed water connection, and a drain hook-up. We like the removable coated steel panel that makes it easy to wipe down. Or, you can remove it to more thoroughly clean the interior.

Astra M2S017 | Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine (220V)

If you’re just starting up a new coffee shop or simply aiming to upgrade your home equipment, the Astra M2S017 Mega II Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine can do wonders for you. You can provide your guests or customers with delicious espresso beverages and leave a lasting impression when they taste the perfect cup of coffee.

The Astra Mega II espresso machine features Astra’s signature modular styling. It is a double portafilter espresso machine that can provide lots of output, generating as much as 480 cups every hour. You won’t leave your customers waiting too long, and any long lines can keep moving.

We highly recommend this type of espresso machine for high-volume commercial settings. Your operation can run smoothly and efficiently with the three easy-to-use cool-touch steam wands and the hot water valves.

Thanks to the semi-automatic functionality, baristas can have extra control over how the beverage should be brewed. A 5′ flexible cord and brass flare fittings also help with longevity.

This Astra model is assembled by hand in America. The machine features a 12 ½ liter boiler with a heating element of 4,500W. This will supply adequate volume and fast heating and make it almost impossible for the device to surpass its steaming capacity. The power connection is 220V, and there’s another type of Astra machine in the 110V model.

The Astra is a self-tamping model that features two high-density group heads. So, with this addition of self-tamping, you can turn your loosely dosed coffee grounds into tightly compressed pucks. It has one single portafilter and two double portafilters, so you can customize how you prepare your beverage each time.

Furthermore, this espresso machine features manual steaming and hot water controls. These excellent features enable maximum control over each cup. The Astra Mega II is easy to install, operate, and maintain.

Precise and accurate temperature control despite high output is another benefit, thanks to the temperature-stabilizing thermocycling system working alongside the high-density group heads.

It is the only machine of its kind because few other espresso machines in the market combine endless steam, constant temperature, and customizable control to produce the ideal shot of espresso.

The Astra M2S017 is built with high-quality, reliable components enclosed in an appealing frame. This espresso machine can perfectly complement various aesthetics and environments and blend well in your coffee shop, restaurant, hotel, or home.

The Astra Espresso Machine: Conclusion

Astra is a lovely brand for espresso machines, exemplified by the two models we explored above. Baristas–– professional and domestic alike–– can trust they will get unmatched performance with any Astra machine. An Astra Espresso Machine can do great wonders for you, your customers, or your guests.

We hope you’ve gained enough knowledge through our Astra Espresso Machine review, learning about their unique features. Let us know what you think!