Is 9 bar better than 15 bar?

Asked by: Eveline Reichert I  |  Last update: June 23, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (65 votes)

Nine bars of pressure, which is nine times the weight of air at sea level, is the gold standard for extracting consistently great espresso in a 25- to 30-second time frame. Any higher or lower level of pressure results in imperfect extraction, typically producing espresso that is too strong or too weak.

Is 9 bar pressure good?

9 bars of pressure is still universally accepted as the perfect pressure for proper extraction. Higher pressure would hinder your chances of getting the best shot, with standard baskets, not improve it.

Is 15 bar too much for espresso?

Now that we've looked at the bare minimum pressure, let's look at the other extreme. A 15 bar pump espresso machine has the maximum amount of pressure that can be applied to espresso.

How heavy is 9 bars of pressure?

9 bars is 130 lbs/in², and the plunger is 6 cm² or 0.93 inches. So 9 bars of pressure means putting 120 lbs on the plunger.

What is the best number of bars for espresso?

Make Your Best Espresso

While 9 bars is the sweet spot, machines in the 7-11 bar range can make excellent espresso. Don't be swayed by ultra-high pressure claims; focus instead on consistency and control over other crucial factors like grind size, water temperature, and extraction time.

6 Bar vs 9 Bar: The Impact on Espresso

16 related questions found

Is 12 bar too high for espresso?

The ideal level of BAR passing through your coffee grounds should be around 7-11 BARs of pressure, though some espresso machines will be able to hit higher BAR.

What does a 9 bar espresso mean?

To keep it simple, nine-bar pressure refers to a unit of measurement used to describe the amount of force used to extract espresso. One bar equals atmospheric sea-level pressure, approximately 14.5 pounds per square inch (psi) or 100 kilopascals (kPa).

What pressure is best for espresso?

9 Bar pressure is the sweet spot for espresso.

How much force is 9 bars?

You can put a bathroom scale below your La Pavoni to get a feel for 9 bars of pressure. It should be 25kg or 55lbs.

How many BAR is considered high pressure?

Pressure up to 25 bar is normally considered as “low pressure”. Pressure from 25 bar to 50 bar is considered as “medium pressure” while everything above is considered as “high pressure”. During compression concentration of solid particles increases significantly.

Is 15 bar or 20 bar better?

All you need is a 15-bar pump for delicious espresso; anything higher produces the same quality.

What is the best espresso machine for home use?

Our favorite espresso machine is the Breville Bambino Plus. It's easy to use and has excellent temperature consistency. We also highly recommend the Breville Barista Express Impress, which has a built-in grinder and tamping arm. Brewing espresso is like the world's quickest science experiment.

What is an unsafe amount of espresso?

Lethal and Healthy Limits

Consuming about 76 to 156 shots of espresso in one day, or 52 to 105 cups of coffee, can be lethal. While these numbers are extreme, it's crucial to know the safe limits to avoid any health risks for your customers.

What is the best budget espresso machine?

  • Best Overall: De'Longhi Stilosa Espresso Machine at Amazon $100. Jump to Review.
  • Best Runner-Up: KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine at Amazon $360. Jump to Review.
  • Best Nespresso: SALE. Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ Deluxe at Amazon $149 $100. Jump to Review.

What is normal bar pressure?

Usage. Atmospheric air pressure where standard atmospheric pressure is defined as 1013.25 mbar, 101.325 kPa, 1.01325 bar, which is about 14.7 pounds per square inch.

Is 9 psi bad?

Remember, anything lower than 20 PSI is considered a flat tire. Consistently monitor your tire pressure and make sure to regularly fill your tires with air to keep them in that ideal 32 to 35 PSI sweet spot, for better safety and mileage.

What does 1 BAR of pressure feel like?

One bar is very close to standard atmospheric pressure (1.01325 bar). To get an idea of what this amount of pressure feels like, it's approximately equivalent to the force of a 1-kilogram weight pressing down on every square centimetre.

How much is 20 BAR in pounds?

How much is ฿20 in GBP. We use mid-market currency rates to convert from THB to GBP. The current exchange rate is 0.02335. ฿20.00 or twenty Baht is worth £0.46 or zero point forty six Pound Sterling.

Is 1 BAR 15 PSI?

One BAR is equal to 14.5038 PSI. Therefore, to convert PSI to BAR, you need to divide the PSI value by 14.5038. How many PSI in a 1 BAR? There are approximately 14.5038 PSI in one BAR.

Is 9 bar enough for espresso?

Nine bars of pressure, which is nine times the weight of air at sea level, is the gold standard for extracting consistently great espresso in a 25- to 30-second time frame. Any higher or lower level of pressure results in imperfect extraction, typically producing espresso that is too strong or too weak.

How many bars of pressure for steaming milk?

For decent milk steaming, you want at least 1.2 bars of steam pressure, but ideally, I would say around 1.24 bars of pressure. That's a steam boiler temperature set within a range of 122 to 128 degrees Celsius to attain those pressures.

What espresso machine does Starbucks use?

Who Makes Starbucks Espresso Machines? Mastrena creates espresso equipment for Starbucks around the world. Their espresso machines are available for purchase, but keep in mind they're designed for high-end, high-volume commercial use. Mastrena focuses on streamlining the coffee brewing process as much as possible.

Is 20 bar better than 15 bar for espresso?

For espresso, 9-bar pressure is the industry standard. When you see a 15-bar vs 20-bar espresso machine, the rating refers to the pump's maximum pressure capacity, not the brewing pressure. High bar ratings ensure consistent water flow, but brewing at exactly 9 bars is optimal for rich, balanced espresso.

How hard is it to tamp espresso?

Apply 20-30 pounds of pressure, and polish

Baristas often recommend 30 pounds of pressure, but some do as little as 20 pounds. More and more are finding that tamping pressure is overrated—it's hard on the wrist and cause an over-extracted, bitter brew. Use a twisting motion as you pull up to “polish” the puck.