What is PID?

When it comes to making espresso, there are a numerous factors that contribute to a quality drink. Of course, the coffee beans you use and the duration of the extraction matter, but temperature also plays a key role.

This is why it’s important for baristas to have control over the temperature on an espresso machine. While most espresso machines will offer you some kind of temperature controls, PID espresso machines have undeniably superior temperature control.

PID actually stands for Proportional Integral Derivative. In terms of coffee, it simply means that the espresso machine is capable of constantly monitoring the water temperature and making small adjustments to keep it at the set temperature.

With a PID controller, an espresso machine works a lot like a thermostat. Once the temperature drops to a certain threshold, the water will heat back up to the set temperature. This makes fluctuations in water temperature much more constant.

Do I need PID on My Espresso Machine?
You don’t technically need a PID temperature controller on your espresso machine for it to function. After all, espresso machines have existed for years without using them.

However, PID does make it much easier for baristas to ensure temperatures in an espresso machine are consistent. With greater consistency in temperature comes greater overall consistency in the quality of the espresso, from texture to taste.