How to make an espresso with a machine
A beginners guide to making espresso at home
Epresso can be delightful on it’s own or can be a base for other espresso-based drinks. How do you make an espresso at home? This article is for beginner home baristas who want to find out how to use an espresso machine to make espresso. We will focus on the basics of brewing espresso:
- espresso ratio (the coffee dose)
- espresso grind
- tamping
- extraction time
A basic step-by-step espresso making guide
How to pull an espresso shot at home using a machine – barista tips
The dose – the espresso ratio
What’s the correct coffee to water ratio for espresso?
As a rule of thumb, use a 1:2 coffee to water ratio (measured by the weight of espresso in the cup). In most espresso machines the coffee baskets take about 18 – 21 g of coffee, so check yours and weigh the coffee on a scale as well as the coffee out of the machine.
Tip: coffee baskets often come with a number on the side indicating how much coffee the backet holds
Espresso grind
Grind your coffee very finely and always use freshly ground coffee to get an aromatic cup of espresso.
It is vital that you start with a good grinder. You also need to be aware how the coarsness of the grind changes your espresso. If your grind is too fine or too coarse, it will change the flavor of your brew. It’s alos a way in which you can adjust your espresso.
The tamping
Place the coffee in the basket and level off the grounds in the basket with your finger.
Keep the tamper straight at a 90 degree angle. Tamp the coffee using 30 – 40 pounds of pressure. If you don’t know how strong it is, you can use your bathroom scale to check this. Clean the rim of the basket with your finger so it fits tight in the machine.
Espresso extraction time
How do you use an espresso machine? Here is how to dial in espresso:
Place the metal handle with the basket in the espresso machine and start brewing immediately. The ideal espresso extraction time is between 20 and 32 seconds, however it will vary depending on the coarseness of the grind, the pressure in the machine and other factors such as air and coffee humidity, your taste preferences andmore. We will cover those in other articles. The pressure in the espresso machine is normally around 9 bars.
Some machines come with a timer, but if yours doesn’t have one, you need to watch the time. If your espresso extraction time is shorter than 20 seconds, it means that your grind may be too coarse, if it’s longer, your grind may be too fine.
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An extra tip for espresso brewing:
Before brewing, let the espresso machine heat up inside. Run water to rinse and get rid of any water staying inside – you want to use fresh water for your brew.
So these are the basics of making espresso with a machine. You can play around with coffee to water ratio, the coarseness of the grind, brewing times, pressure to get your perfect shot of espresso.
How to drink espresso like an Italian
Here are some tips how to drink and taste your espresso to make the most of it:
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Many coffee lovers use espresso as a base for coffee drinks with milk. Here we explain how to steam milk with a wand.