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Espresso coffee is a world-renowned beverage. With its enchanting flavors, it seduces the greatest coffee lovers. Making an espresso, however, requires a certain amount of precision. The coffee must be carefully selected, your water must be at the right temperature and your tamping must be impeccable.
As you can see, not everyone can become a barista overnight. However, it is possible to get informed and then adopt the right approach to prepare an espresso worthy of the name.
Check out all these tips to become an expert in making espresso at home.
First of all, we need to remember some basics, like the definition of espresso coffee. This hot and tasty drink has only two ingredients:
Originating in Italy, espresso coffee can be recognized by its thin layer of brown cream that coats the cup. This layer is maintained and does not let the coffee underneath show. The coffee is very aromatic, with an intense fragrance of chocolate and toast. Its flavors are long-lasting, while the acidity and bitterness of the drink are perfectly balanced.
Want to make espresso coffee at home? Here's how to do it.
To make a good espresso, you must, above all, have the basic equipment. You can choose between :
If it is true that the automatic coffee machine allows you to save time, the manual machine will not prevent you from making good coffee!
Coffee and water are the raw materials of espresso coffee. Ideally, the water should be low in minerals and low in sodium, calcium and magnesium.
Indeed, water that is too hard can produce a bitter coffee. It can also damage your machine. If your water is hard, remember to filter it before preparing your espresso for an optimal result. Similarly, to prepare your espresso, your water must be at the right temperature, between 85 and 95 degrees.
To prepare your espresso, you can choose between :
Real baristas, on the other hand, will undoubtedly turn to coffee beans, which they grind on demand and which contain a lot of flavour because of the freshness of the grind. However, ground coffee remains a good alternative. On the other hand, coffee pods are not recommended if you want to prepare a real espresso. Indeed, it does not allow you to go through the unavoidable step of brewing, which we will develop further in the following paragraphs. In any case, choose quality coffee, because it is the essential element for producing a good espresso.
Traditionally, the traditional Italian espresso is made from highly roasted robusta. On the other hand, you can also turn to a milder Arabica. However, avoid coffees that are roasted for extraction from a filter coffee maker or a piston machine. The result could be bland.
Generally speaking, count :
However, there is nothing to stop you from reducing the amount of coffee if you prefer it lighter. Conversely, you can increase the dosage slightly for a stronger espresso.
As for your container, note that espresso is enjoyed in a 7-centimeter high cup, i.e. a 5 to 10 cl cup. Ideally, preheat your cup to start preparing your coffee by pouring a little hot water into it, for example.
In addition to the grammage, it is essential that you succeed in tamping your espresso coffee. This step is decisive. Your tamping must be homogeneous so that the grind can be impregnated with the water that will pass through it. This is the only way you will be able to enjoy all the aromas of your coffee.
To do this, use a tamp with enough pressure and then :
Also note that your grind should be the right size. A grind that is too coarse could prevent the water from passing through. On the other hand, if it's too fine, you won't get the full flavour of your coffee.
Before preparing your espresso coffee with your machine, remember to purge the water and rinse off any remaining coffee particles from your previous use. Then, insert and snap in your filter holder with the ground coffee packed and prepare your dose of water.
Remember to wipe the edges of the filter holder before starting your machine. The coffee beans are abrasive and can damage the filter holder seal. When the machine is ready, start the preparation of your espresso.
Note that the water flow time is usually between 25 and 28 seconds. This is the time you will need to wait before you can enjoy your delicately prepared drink. Anything less than 25 seconds means that the water is flowing too quickly. Your coffee will lack body and won't reveal all its flavors. If this is the case, adjust your brewing or put more coffee in your filter pan. Above 28 seconds, the water has difficulty circulating. Therefore, press your coffee less firmly and do not put too much coffee in the filter holder.
It is also possible to prepare espresso coffee without a coffee machine. However, the operation will be a little more time consuming and tedious.
To fully enjoy the espresso you just made, you need a glass of water and a teaspoon. The teaspoon is not simply used to combine the sugar with the coffee. Rather, it is useful for blending all the flavors of the coffee and the thin layer of cream that forms on the surface. By not stirring your coffee, the first sip can be stronger and more bitter. So stir your coffee lightly before tasting it so that it is perfectly balanced in the mouth.
Finally, the glass of water helps cleanse your palate before enjoying your coffee. Salivary proteins in the mouth can delay the release of flavours. Dry mouth can also alter the taste of coffee. Ideally, you should drink a large glass of water to prepare your taste buds, then stir your coffee before you finally taste it.
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