How To Make A Great Espresso
Making espresso is something that any coffee lover can do at home with the right ingredients and tools.
THE INGREDIENTS
Water: You can’t make great coffee with poor quality water. Espresso requires fresh nearly boiling water. The secret to fresh water is to run the tap a bit to clear to pipes and get clear cold water. If you filter your water, make sure that you change the filter often. If you live in an area with really foul tasting water, use a filter or bottled water. Bottled water isn’t good for the environment, even if it makes better coffee.
Coffee Beans: The best espresso uses aribica coffee, robusta should be used for ordinary coffee. The coffee beans should be fresh and used no more than a couple days after roasting. The roasted beans should be a dark color and have a fresh smell.
Ground Coffee: Burr grinders are best for for preparing the coffee for espresso. You want a mixture with a grind that is somewhere between sand and gravel. The best way to learn the proper grind is to watch a professional prepare it. Don’t let the ground coffee stand around for days, the less time it’s exposed to air the better.
Espresso Machine: A good quality machine will make good espresso. Make sure that your machine is clean.
THE PROCESS
Once you have assembled these elements, you are ready to brew your espresso.
- Rinse the espresso machine and preheat it by running a cup through to flush the system.
- Add clear cold water.
- Add ground coffee and tamp it down a bit so it’s lighted packed.
- Place a warmed glass carafe under the spout.
- Start the machine and in about 5 seconds you will have a a steady stream of steam.
- When the coffee hit the arafe it should have a dark brown foam which is known as crema. When the crema begins to lose it’s dark color, it’s time to shut down the process and remove the espresso.
That’s all there is to it: use fresh water, properly ground aribica coffee beans, and a good espresso machine and you will have an outstanding cup of espresso in almost no time.
You can use the espresso as a base for making latte or other coffee drinks.
Updated May 30, 2009
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