| Ah, espresso! It's been called the nectar of the gods | | | | impurities that can affect the flavor of your coffee. |
| and the elixir of energy. Properly prepared, the | | | | On the other hand, distilled water can leave your |
| perfect shot of espresso is an unparalleled sensory | | | | coffee tasting a little flat. If you are lucky enough to |
| experience, encompassing four of the five senses - | | | | have a semi-automatic machine with a built-in water |
| five, if you include the sound of this delicious drink as | | | | filter, be sure to keep the filter clean. |
| it is prepared and consumed. A perfectly turned out | | | | 6. Heat the water to the correct temperature. |
| shot of espresso is an incredibly refreshing hot | | | | Espresso is defined as a coffee beverage brewed by |
| beverage and has been termed 'the god shot'. There | | | | forcing water heated to between 190 and 195 |
| has been a great deal written about how to achieve | | | | degrees through finely ground, packed coffee under |
| a perfect shot/cup of espresso every time. Brewing | | | | high pressure. If the water is colder than 190, it will |
| the perfect cup of espresso consistently is a talent | | | | not extract enough flavor. If it is hotter, it can 'cook' |
| to which most baristas - both professional and | | | | the coffee. |
| at-home - aspire. What does it take to brew a | | | | 7. Run a 'blind shot' through the group head before |
| perfect cup of espresso? Here are ten tips to help | | | | you make your shot to heat the group head to the |
| you make every shot of espresso a perfect shot. | | | | right temperature. To make a perfect shot of |
| 1. Start with a clean machine. That should go without | | | | espresso, the temperature should remain consistent |
| saying, but far too many people neglect the | | | | all the way through the brewing time. If your group |
| necessary maintenance needed to keep their | | | | head is at room temperature, it can rapidly cool down |
| espresso machines scrupulously clean. A film of | | | | the coffee right in the middle of the brewing |
| coffee oils on your filter basket or group head can | | | | process, resulting in weak coffee. |
| mar the flavor of your coffee, and mineral buildup in | | | | 8. Tamp the coffee in the filter basket to pack it |
| the various parts of the machine that hold and carry | | | | tightly. The "Espresso Rule of Thumb" says that you |
| water can give your espresso a tinny or metallic | | | | should get 1.5 ounces of espresso in 20-25 seconds. |
| flavor. | | | | There are two major factors that affect how fast |
| 2. Choose the right coffee. It's not necessary to | | | | the water goes through your ground and packed |
| choose an 'espresso roast'; in fact, espresso roast is | | | | coffee. The first is the pump pressure on your |
| often darker than the roasts suggested for making | | | | machine. The second is how firmly packed your |
| espresso. Because espresso brewing extracts so | | | | coffee is. If the water is flowing through too fast or |
| much rich coffee flavor, you will get incredibly good | | | | too slow, try adjusting either the grind of the coffee |
| results with coffee in the medium to medium-dark | | | | or the pressure that you use to tamp the coffee |
| roast categories. Of course, you want to use GOOD | | | | into the filter basket. |
| coffee, but the variety is less important than the | | | | 9. Use the right size tamper. This is a surprisingly |
| perfect grind. | | | | simple solution that is often overlooked. If the |
| 3. The perfect grind is almost impossible to achieve | | | | tamper that you use is too small, the coffee around |
| with a cheap bladed grinder. The right grind for | | | | the edges of the filter basket won't be packed firmly |
| espresso is very fine, almost as fine as talcum | | | | enough. The water will take the path of least |
| powder. Aim for a grind somewhere between sugar | | | | resistance through the coffee - right down the sides |
| and flour in consistency, and you will have it about | | | | of the filter basket, missing most of the coffee |
| right. You CAN get that consistency with a blade | | | | flavor in your basket. |
| grinder, but you will generally 'burn' the coffee in the | | | | 10. Use the right pump pressure setting. The correct |
| attempt. A burr grinder can be adjusted to exactly | | | | setting for your pump pressure is 8-9 BAR. |
| the right grind for espresso without damaging the | | | | Making perfect cup of espresso is not much different |
| flavor of the coffee. | | | | than making a perfect cake. Once you learn the |
| 4. Use the right amount of coffee. The "Espresso | | | | recipe - which in the case of espresso includes |
| Rule of Thumb" calls for 7 grams of coffee for a | | | | pressure and temperature - you will be able to |
| single shot and 14 grams of coffee for a double shot. | | | | produce consistently excellent shots of espresso |
| 5. Use good water. Filtered water is best for making | | | | even when you start experimenting with different |
| espresso because you will leave behind all the little | | | | kinds of coffee. |