With so many coffee shops around the world today, getting a cup of coffee won’t need you to break a sweat. However, not all of these shops offer the best coffee. Any coffee lover will know at a glance if a cafe is true to its word in offering the finest brews or not. Most of the time, they skimp on the ingredients and will leave you with a stale cup of caffeine.
So, what is a coffee lover who’s in search of a good brew got to do? Make his own shot of espresso, of course! With the right materials, ingredients, and know how you can actually make an excellent cup of coffee right in your kitchen.
Making Good Espresso at Home
If you really want a quality cup of coffee, you’ll want to get started with how to make your own espresso. From there on, you can already start experimenting and creating different drinks.
So, how do you make a good espresso at home? Here are some tips:
1. Always start with good, clean water.
Mineral, scale and other sediments will affect the taste of your espresso, so you should be very particular with the water you’ll be using. It’s best to use filtered water to make sure that it’s clean and clear.
2. Never settle for anything less than freshly roasted beans.
No serious coffee lover will buy ground coffee as these things tend to lose their flavor as soon as they’re cut up. So always opt for beans that are freshly roasted. Only use those that are about 4 days to three weeks away from roasting as they have the optimal flavor that will give the best taste to your cup of coffee.
3. Grind the coffee beans correctly.
There are different coffee grinds that you can use to make different kinds of coffee. For espressos, you need them to be very fine - almost identical to table salt. If it’s clumping, then it’s the right texture. Always ground your beans right before you use them for their optimal taste.
4. Use the right dose.
You’ll need to use the right dose of ground coffee. The more grounds you use, the body and intensity of the shot will also increase. Experts recommend about 18 to 21 grams, but you can also adjust according to your preference.
5. Only use the best home espresso machine.
Prep your machine accordingly. You can purge, fill it with fresh filtered water, and heat up the areas that will touch your coffee. Make sure that the portafilter is clean and dry to avoid coffee extraction early on and then tamp the coffee. Once done, you can now place it on the group head and start brewing.
Some espresso machines have pre-brew stages, so make sure to do that first if yours has one before you actually start brewing. This will ensure that your coffee will brew properly and you won’t end up with a bad tasting cup. Once done, you can already start brewing.
6. Serve accordingly.
A good espresso will look slightly viscous and as if it’s springing back up because of the oils extracted. It will also have a nice crema on top that you can stir into the shot or just wait to dissipate in a minute or two.
Different baristas have various techniques in brewing a great shot of espresso. With practice, you’ll also be able to create the very cup you’ll love so feel free to experiment as well.