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Step 1: Assemble Your Materials
You can't make espresso with any old coffee machine. You'll need special equipment and the right coffee beans to make a true espresso shot.
Find an espresso machine. If you don't already have a machine (or know someone who does) and want to make real espresso, prepare to make an investment. By definition, the water used to make espresso must pass through the grounds under a certain amount of pressure (at least nine units, or bars, of water pressure, though coffeehouses use machines with 15 bars of pressure to get more consistent results) and be 190ºF or hotter. Therefore, you need a machine to make espresso, and the better machines will cost well over $100.
Buy or borrow a grinder if your espresso machine takes loose grounds. There are two kinds of coffee grinders out there:
* Blade grinders—People who grind beans for regular coffee at home usually have blade grinders. This type of grinder has two blades that spin rapidly to chop up the beans—kind of like a food processor does vegetables. However, blade grinders are not ideal for grinding beans for espresso, as they generate heat and don't produce consistent grounds.5 If you look at coffee ground with blades, you can see both fine powder and large chunks of coffee in the same mixture.
* Burr grinders—Burr grinders produce a much more consistent product because the distance between the opposing wheels determines the fineness of the grounds. Be aware that burr grinders tend to be more expensive than blade grinders.
Get some espresso beans. Check to see whether your machine takes pre-measured pods of espresso or loose grounds. If you use loose grounds, make sure to use a coffee blend for making espresso. Arabica beans are often used for espresso.
Espresso Cups. You can put espresso in any kind of cup you like, but there are special, smaller made especially for espresso and cappucino. These smaller cups hold the standard 1.5-ounce espresso.
Step 2: Preparation
Some espresso machines take commercial pods of coffee grounds that allow you to skip most of the preparation. Still, it's good to know the factors that go into making a good shot of espresso.
1. Grind the beans. Typically, it takes about seven grams of finely ground coffee for every two ounces of water to produce one shot of espresso.
2. Tamp the grounds. Use the tamper that came with your machine to apply to the grounds.
3. Try pressing on your home scale to see how hard you should press to reach that amount of pressure. Some machines will apply pressure for you, but you still need to tamp the grounds lightly before inserting them.
4. Insert the grounds into the machine as the manual directs.
Step 3: Pull a Shot
Technically speaking, you "pull" a shot of espresso, rather than brewing it.
1. Make sure to give the machine enough time to heat up.
2. Place your cup under the coffee dispenser.
3. Follow the machine's instructions to pull the shot.
4. Time your shot. It should take anywhere between 18 and 22 seconds to extract your espresso if the grounds are of the right consistency. That's the amount of time it should take between pressing the buttons on your machine to filling your cup.
Alternative to Espresso Machines: Moka Pots
Moka pots cost less than espresso machines. They produce stovetop espresso that falls in between the taste of regular coffee and true espresso. To use an espresso pot:
1. Fill the boiler (bottom part of the pot) with cold water—either to a line marked on the inside or to the valve that lets out steam.
2. Insert the filter piece and fill it loosely with properly ground coffee. The grounds should pile a little more than flush with the top of the filter.
3. Screw on the top part of the pot.
4. Place the pot on a low flame on the stovetop.
5. Remove the pot when it starts to gurgle or just before (if you're really good, you'll know when it's about to gurgle).
6. Pour your coffee.
Other Variations
You can also use a Handpresso, a hand pump for making espresso. If you're on the go, and desperate for espresso, it may be the answer to your prayers.
Espresso Drinks
Espresso provides the base for many popular coffee drinks, such as those sold at Starbucks, Seattle's Best and local coffee bars. Below are some basic recipes for some of the most popular variations.
* Americano—Combine equal amounts of hot water and espresso.
* Cappuccino—Combine equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam, in that order.
* Cafe Con Panna— Put a dollop...
Read more by visiting our page at:
http://www.mahalo.com/courses/be-your-own-barista/coffee-drinks/making-espresso/
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12 videos
@YourMate999 i aint your mate. Just making ur understanding clear.
Xiia0Sn00pY 4 days ago
@YourMate999 I think you will find a solo is a single and doppio is a double but they are both espresso becasue both are extracted under pressure. Espresso is an extraction not a drink!
TheCellarat 4 days ago
@Xiia0Sn00pY yes its total crap just image of this guys pressing down on scales makes me laugh. he is a muppet.
TheCellarat 4 days ago
@Xiia0Sn00pY No one asked for you opinion, Mate
YourMate999 1 week ago
@TheCellarat thats just crap. All is needed a a leveled tamp. No need to specifically adjust your pounds of pressure etc.. thats just crap..
Xiia0Sn00pY 1 week ago
@YourMate999 Dude. i dont know where your getting your knowledge but that really doesnt relate to to anything. Espresso is an extraction method of coffee. Not a shot a type of coffee or any other bullshit people want to relate it to.
Xiia0Sn00pY 1 week ago
No, this isn't an espresso, this is a Doppio, an espresso is a single shot, a Doppio is a double shot, which is what you're doing, not that Im saying its bad.
YourMate999 1 week ago
dude the comments really rag on you and your brew, I wonder....
randycha813 1 week ago
"Forget what you might know" I don't think there is possibly anything else anybody could know about this. Let some stuff fall in a cup, press stuff down, push button, pull lever.
chavez9422 2 weeks ago
pressing on scales to work out what 30 pounds of pressure is? what a muppet
TheCellarat 3 weeks ago