Espresso coffee is the world’s leading form of coffee. In Italy, ordering a “caffè” will always result in an espresso. This coffee culture has spread throughout the world, making espresso the most consumed type of coffee globally.
Different types of espresso shots, like espresso, lungo, or ristretto, can be combined with either foamed or steamed milk to create common espresso drinks like cappuccinos and lattes. Or, if you prefer, you can drink your espresso straight for a more authentic and traditional espresso coffee experience.
The espresso brewing method uses hot, pressurized water to force coffee grounds through a filter at about nine bars of pressure.
There is a great deal of variation in the way espresso coffee is brewed, from the type of machine used to the method employed.
The coffee puck is a ball of very finely-ground espresso coffee beans. It is not so finely ground that it would block the pores in the basket or portafilter.
To make the perfect espresso, you need to find the right grind size for your coffee and machine. The ideal grind should be uniform in size and shape.
This guide will explain how to make espresso coffee at home that tastes like it’s from a cafe or coffee house.
Method to make espresso at home
Grind your selected coffee beans and dose your shot. Most modern grinders will grind to a single dose. The goal is to keep the beans fresh, as ground coffee goes bad more quickly than beans.
The grind you are aiming for should be similar to that of confectioners’ sugar or baby powder.
Find out more about which grinds to use for which processes by consulting Portfolio Coffee’s Grind Size Chart. You can get espresso ground coffee without having to grind it yourself.
Remove the portafilter or other basket. Wipe it clean and dry out the basket. Set the scale to zero and grind 17 to 20 grams of espresso coffee.
Put a single drop of water with the espresso beans to prevent static from building up and blocking the mechanism.
You need to make sure that the coffee is evenly spread in the basket before you start brewing. To do this, tap the basket lightly with your fingers or a spoon.
Pressing the tamper down onto the puck until you feel resistance forms a firm screen that the hot water can push against. This allows the hot water to be forced through the coffee grounds more evenly.
If the coffee pucks are not distributed evenly or tamped properly, the espresso shot will be ruined by uneven extraction.
Next, prepare the espresso coffee machine. The process of making espresso in an espresso machine will vary depending on the machine, but all machines will have some sort of water heating process and an activation process.
In order to ensure that everything is sufficiently heated, run boiling water through the group head. To make coffee, first lock the portafilter into place and then place a cup under it.
Start your timer, then pull an espresso shot by either activating your espresso coffee machine or pulling the lever on your manual espresso coffee device.
The barista will need to engage the group head, and watch the espresso coffee machine for a steady stream. The extraction process should last 23-28 seconds.
Longer, slower brews require coarser grinds. Quick, under-extracted brews require finer grinds. After you get used to it, it will be easy; we promise!
Serve and enjoy your espresso!
Espresso at home brewing guide
1. Pre-heat the machine and portafilter
Start by turning on your espresso maker and attaching the portafilter to the machine’s group head. Allow the espresso maker to preheat for 10-15 minutes before using.
The Breville Barista Pro is a espresso maker that uses the ThermoJet heating system which only takes 3 seconds to heat up. To get the best results, you should preheat the portafilter and group head.
To heat your machine faster, pull a few shots of hot water.
2. Measure your dose
The amount of coffee you need to make a cup of coffee is called the dose. You’ll need a different amount of beans depending on the size of your filter basket, so make sure to measure it out.
Many espresso makers come with baskets for both single and double shots. We recommend using between 7 and 10 grams of coffee for a single espresso shot and 18 grams for a double espresso shot.
How can you tell if you’re using too much or too little coffee? Simple! After you Brew a shot, inspect the puck to see if there is an imprint. If there is, you need fewer grounds.
If the coffee puck’s surface is too watery, you will either need to use more grounds or tamp less forcefully.
3. Grind the coffee beans
The size of the grind is very important for making a perfect espresso. The perfect grind can be achieved by finding the right setting on your grinder. To make espresso, the grind size should be similar to that of table salt. Our coffee grind size chart provides more detailed information.
You will need to grind coffee beans to find the perfect grind size. Additionally, you will have to reset the grinding mechanism each time you want to use beans from a different roaster. Different freshness also requires some minor adjustment.
4. Distribute the coffee grounds evenly
A few errors were made in the process, so be sure to read on to avoid making the same mistakes.
After you have determined the specific number of beans to grind for most home coffee brewers, add the coffee beans directly to the portafilter. After creating the basic shape of the sculpture, you would smooth out the surface using your finger.
This isn’t an efficient method as some of the coffee grounds will be lost. Additionally, it is not accurate to measure the amount of grounds you need and often leads to a mess.
It is better to use a dosing cup rather than grinding straight into the portafilter. For example, if your machine has a 54mm filter basket, you will need an identical dosing cup.
After you have added the coffee grinds to the cup, place the portafilter on top of it and turn it over. This gives an accurate measure and prevents mess.
If you want to dose the coffee straight into the portafilter, you can buy a dosing funnel to make the process easy and mess-free.
We normally tap the filter a few times lightly to help the coffee grounds sink. Doing this also helps remove air gaps and clumps. You can make the procedure of measuring coffee easier and more efficient by using a coffee leveler.
5. Tamp the grounds
The best way to learn how to correctly tamp coffee is to try it yourself. Most beginners tend to press unevenly and too hard.
There are some means of making it more straightforward.
Calibrated tampers stop at a particular pressure to prevent the coffee from being over compressed. This leads to consistent tamping.
Palm tampers let you set how deep they tamp, so you can adjust it to your desired level. It stops when it hits the ridges. This is the best way to get consistent, great results when tamping.
Three secret weapons
We use a two-in-one tamper and coffee distributor, which ensures the correct amount of coffee is dispensed. If you use these tools, your grounds will be the right size for the filter basket.
These tools are not required, but they will help you immensely in pulling the perfect espresso shot. Without many of the things that can make or break an espresso, you are able to focus more on grind size adjustments.
This will make it easier for you to dial in the perfect espresso shot. We explained how to make use of these espresso tools in another article. In another article, we explained how to make use of these espresso tools.
6. Pull a shot of espresso
To make coffee, you will need to attach the portafilter to the brew head. Then, place a mug on a scale and tare it. Set the timer. The espresso coffee to water ratio should be 1:2. If you want to make a double shot using 18 grams of coffee, you will need 36 grams of water.
It should take around 25 to 30 seconds to do this. Some espresso makers begin the timer when the beverage hits the cup, so the grounds are pre-infused.
7. Make adjustments and repeat
If it takes less than 25 seconds to brew 36 grams of coffee, making the grind setting finer will improve the taste. If the text takes more than 30 seconds to read, make it more concise.
Add 18 more grams of coffee grounds to the filter, then tamp and distribute them using the methods we described earlier. Then time the shot to 36 grams. Do this process over and over, making small changes each time, until you get the perfect timing of 25-30 seconds.
The espresso this produces will be drinkable, but probably not great. We haven’t yet considered the roast level of the grounds or your tastes.
If you have a premium grinder that you can adjust to different settings, feel free to experiment with it. Change the temperature settings on your espresso machine until you find the perfect temperature for your needs.
8. Milk-based espresso coffees
Espresso makers typically have a milk steaming wand. After making your espresso, you can steam some milk to produce either a cappuccino, a latte, or similar coffee drinks that include milk.
Although perfect practice is needed to execute this perfectly, it won’t be mentioned in this guide.
Tips to get espresso right
Puck preparation is important
Use a puck distribution tool or a needle to mix the espresso ground coffee in the basket or portafilter before preparing your espresso coffee. This will help to make sure that the water moves evenly through the coffee and is not channeled through a thin patch, ruining the espresso shot.
Get the grind right
You might need to try different grind sizes with your espresso coffee machine, grinder, and setup to find the best one. Once you find the right grind size, make sure you can keep using it consistently.
You need to make sure the grind of your coffee is not too fine, or else the coffee will get stuck in your basket and you will end up with a small channel of water running through your coffee grinds. If the grind is too coarse, the water will not be slowed down enough as it passes through the coffee grounds, resulting in an espresso shot that is not extracted properly.
Best coffees for espresso
Portfolio Coffee offers a variety of specialty coffees that are perfect for brewing espresso shots.
Fazenda Sucuri is a Brazilian coffee that is grown at high altitudes. It is a single-origin coffee, meaning that it is made from coffee beans that come from a single source. Yellow Catuai coffee cherries are known for their lower acidity and strong, varied flavor. This rich, dark roast coffee has a syrupy body with chocolatey undertones.
Fazenda Eldorado’s single origin Brazilian coffee is grown on the renowned Eldorado farm in Brazil. This coffee has a medium roast with a full body. It tastes like red berries and hazelnut with a smooth chocolate aftertaste.
Equilibrio’s Brazilian Nicaraguan coffee has a rich chocolate flavor with hints of caramel and cashews. It has a light, sweet floral aftertaste. The coffee is a blend of Brazilian coffees from the Alta Mogiana region and Nicaraguan coffee. The coffee has a unique blended flavor.
This coffee is from a specific farm in Brazil called Cachoeira. The coffee has flavors of chocolate and caramel with a clean, citrusy medium roast. It is a dense coffee with a long, slow aftertaste and low acidity.
Benefits of espresso coffee
Aside from being delicious and delivering a refined and interesting espresso flavor experience every time, espresso coffees contain high levels of caffeine. Many people who love espresso coffee think it does wonders for their energy levels, concentration, mood, and mental wellbeing.
Espresso shots by themselves are low calorie, and the caffeine might suppress hunger, potentially making it easier to cut down on unhealthy snacking and other problematic eating habits. However, adding milk or sugar to espresso negates these benefits.
Conclusion
If you want to make espresso or an espresso-style coffee at home, you don’t need an espresso maker.
Authentic espresso costs more to make than other types of coffee. When you’re first learning how to do something, it’s normal to make mistakes and feel frustrated. With time and practice, you’ll get better at it. Although it may be challenging, making a great espresso is also enjoyable and provides a real sense of accomplishment.
Not only will you save money in the long run, but you’ll also make back the initial expense of the equipment.
There are ways to make espresso-type drinks for less money, as explained in this guide.
If you are looking for a coffee machine that is affordable and falls in the middle of the two options, then a Nespresso machine is a great option to consider. Besides being easy to use, these machines are also quick.
This guide shows that there are ways to brew espresso at home, regardless of your skill level or budget.
No matter what approach you take, we have full faith that you’ll soon be crafting excellent espresso or espresso-based beverages. This means that those pricey store-bought espressos could soon become a thing of the past.