Latte Art Champion Daniel Gerlach | Photo credit: WMF

In the barista scene, technology is playing an increasingly important role – but it is not replacing the traditional craftsmanship of coffee artists. Professionals like Latte Art Champion Daniel Gerlach understand the value of having the right support at the right time to increase productivity and the quality of their work.  
 

With the semi-automatic WMF espresso NEXT portafilter, Gerlach has achieved the perfect symbiosis of targeted support and individual barista freedom. 

“As a barista, I want to be able to influence all the relevant factors – from brewing and steam pressure to temperature, grind and quantity,” says Gerlach.  

Once set, these parameters should remain as stable and constant as possible, but as natural product, coffee is subject to fluctuations.  

“Even I as a professional barista can’t always give 100%. In this case, it’s helpful that the WMF espresso NEXT can make adjustments when there are discrepancies. For example, by adjusting the amount of coffee or the grind,” he says.  

Without this technology, Gerlach would have to perform these steps manually and test various parameters. This can lead to a waste of resources, such as coffee or milk.  

The Automatic Milk-Dosing function of the WMF espresso NEXT is another great helper in the hectic everyday life of the barista. “The right amount of milk goes straight into the jug. Then I can decide whether to froth the milk by hand or leave it to the machine’s AutoSteam function.”  
 

Without the milk dispenser, the volume of milk in the jug can be inconsistent – and depending on the amount, the quality of the milk foam will vary. In the worst case, the jug could overflow.  

“Machines like WMF espresso NEXT provide powerful support for professionals, especially when external factors fluctuate greatly,” concludes Gerlach.  

In addition, Gerlach is convinced that automation can increase coffee quality, even in venues with inexperienced staff. After all, the machine takes makes sure all tasks are error-free on request and ensures perfect quality – cup after cup. 
 

Find out more about the WMF espresso NEXT here.