Early morning or after work a flavorful cup of espresso is a great way to enjoy your day. After World War II Italy the trend of making and enjoying espresso began within Italy. Years later this singular trend caught on in America. Currently, espresso has become the favorite hot drink and people do not shy away from paying top dollar for this coffee beverage. However, if you have an espresso machine at home, you can make espresso at home and also experiment with various types of them.
(Make sure you check espresso reviews to buy the right super automatic espresso machine that fits your preferences).
Here we will provide you with brief steps for the perfect espresso cup.
Gather the following list of items. In addition to water you will need your selection of espresso beans, the right size espresso cups and your very own espresso machine. When looking at espresso machines the pricing can differ quite a bit from in the hundreds to in the thousands (super automatic espresso machine lines). Keep in mind that the more convenient the machine the more expensive. In terms of espresso beans, Arabica espresso beans are the most known for making espresso. Check if the espresso machine uses loose grounds or requires that you have measured pods of espresso. You will need a truly good coffee bean grinder for this. Also, you can pour espresso in any cup but there are custom made cups available to hold 1.5 oz. of espresso.
Have the water chamber filled up to the necessary amount for your espresso machine. As a safety precaution make sure the boiler cap is fully secured as to avoid any accidental injury. You will need 2 oz. of water for each shot of espresso so fill the water chamber to enough water to cover the number of espresso shots you want.
Finely grind espresso beans to the correct amount for enough shots. Put enough espresso bean grounds into the filter. There are markings for measurements on the filters so you will know precisely how much you will need. Ideally, 7 grams of grounded coffee beans is enough for one espresso shot.
Clean off any excess grounds out and around the filter. If the filter is overfilled remove the additional amount and place it back into the espresso machine.
The final step of this process is to “pull a shot” of espresso from the espresso bean grounds. So, when everything is prepared, pull the shot. Your espresso machine will begin to heat up the water to a specific temperature. Once it hits that temperature it forces the then pressurized water through the espresso bean grounds to extract the essence into the water. Take your 1.5 ounce cup and place it under the dispenser. Crema / Schiuma is a reddish brown foam and it will form at the top when the espresso begins the flow. After the crema foam changes to an off-white color you can remove the cup (about 25-30 seconds after it begins dripping). Stop the flow at this point because if it is continued the flavor of the espresso will become increasingly bitter and acidic.
Your shot is ready so take a whiff of that flavorful cup of espresso and savor every sip!
Two Things To Consider
Make sure you allocate enough time for your espresso machine to reach its optimal heating temperature. Check the manual for the indicators that your espresso machine has reached the right temperature to allow you to pull your shot. Without the properly heated water you will be pulling watered down espresso shots!
Cleaning is important because the your espresso will lose its flavor if the machine isn’t properly cleaned. Take care of your espresso machine and it will return the favor two-fold. Do not use improper cleaning methods other than what’s stated in the manual. Doing so can only increase the chances of ruining your espresso machine.
As you see, making a flavorful espresso cup is not that difficult once you’ve made it a habit! You have been spending hundreds of dollars each year in the cafe on your espresso. Why not bring home your next espresso machine and start pulling your own espresso shots today? You’ll be glad that you did.
Espresso machine brands you may want to consider: Saeco Machine or Delonghi Espresso