How to Make Espresso at Home: A Starter Guide

Do you want to make espresso? Every espresso lover wants to make their shot by themselves. I think you also can make your espresso by yourselves.

Can't you?

I'll show you how to make espresso. It's a pretty simple process. You can make it easier. Let's make.

Making espresso is one kind of art. Everyone cannot get this art. One who loves espresso and have affection for it; only they can make it perfectly.

Perfect espresso means; it will be perfect in all areas like aroma and test, colour, consistent layer of the specific brown foam, the dark extracted liquid through the end, etc.

Making the perfect espresso at home is a complex process. Do you think is it complicated?

It's a combination of your coffee bean quality, your espresso machine quality, and your barista skills. Beans quality will surprisingly affect on your espresso, low quality coffee powder, and the essential thing is espresso machine which can make or break your shot.

Here are some best espresso machines which I recommend for making the perfect espresso.

How to Make Espresso?

The whole process of making espresso can divide into some individual steps:

Step-1: Choosing beans:

Part-1: Roast Selection:

You can choose any roast level for your espresso. Roast level is not essential things. It depends on your test habits.

What types of espresso do you like most?

If you like to drink strong espresso, you can choose a single-origin bean that's not roasted very dark, or if you want to make the espresso into a latte or cappuccino, you have to choose dark roasted coffee beans.

Part-2: Buying Beans:

You can buy your beans from a coffee shop or a store. You have to know when the beans were roasted. If the beans roasted within the last day or two, it might be still releasing carbon-di-oxide. Fresh beans roasted 5 to 12 days earlier. So when purchase your beans, check the label on the bag to find the roast date.

Do you check yours?

Step-2: Grinding Beans:

This is one of the essential parts to making espresso. You should have total control to grind your coffee beans, which is direct effects on your flavour. If you ground your beans too fine, your espresso will test a burnt or 'ashy' flavour, and it could make the espresso bitter. If they're too coarse, the water will run through them too quickly without extracting all the flavour and oils in the coffee.

You need a high-quality burr grinder to grind your coffee beans. The burrs will be perfect for grinding, but a cheap metal blade is not right. Grind 7 grams of espresso for 30mls single-shot. For making a double shot grind 14 grams of beans.

Do you have a burr grinder? Here are some best burr grinders you can look at.

Step-3: Preparing the Machine:

For heat up the machine turn on your espresso machine about 20 to 30 minutes before to use. Pour water tank with water and connected to the machine and ensure that the portafilter is in the machine. Pull a blank shot to ensure that all are things going alright.

Every machine are different; you have to know how to use the machine from the user manual.

Don't you know how to use an espresso machine? No problem, you can learn better from here.

Step-4: Fill the Water Reservoir tank:

Connect your machine to a water source. You need to fill your water reservoir with fresh, clean, filtered water. Try to avoid using tap water, because it contains minerals. Water is directly affected by your espresso. So try to use pure water.

Then heat the water between 197 to 204 degrees Farenhight. It is essential because adequately heated water can extract all of the flavour compounds of the espresso.

Step-5: Preparing the Portafilter:

Remove the portafilter from the machine. Then use a clean, tea towel to wipe the inside clean. You have to make sure that there are no moisture or old coffee grinds in your portafilter.

For beginners to dosing, you should set the portafilter on a digital scale and tare it. If you have already known, how much espresso to use, then you can skip weighing out the espresso.

Step-6: Dosing the Espresso:

For making a single shot, place about 7 grams of ground espresso into your dry portafilter. Place about 18 grams of ground espresso into your portafilter for making a double shot.

Put the portafilter on your preset digital scale to ensure you're doing an accurate amount, now, level the ground, using your forefinger and fill in any air pockets.

Step-7: Tamping the Espresso:

Tamping will ensure that the water passes through the espresso evenly. You should use a tamper to compact your coffee into your portafilter. Set your portafilter on a smooth surface and grip the handle of tamping then turn your arm at a 90-degree angle and push down evenly.

Many experts think "about 15 kg body weight is ideal". And they also use a trick that if you feel the coffee "push back" your tamp is OK.

What do you think?

Your portafilter should be about fourth-fifth full after tamping. Then if you overturn your portafilter after tamping, the coffee ground should stay put.

After tamped the espresso, you should not knock the outside of the portafilter. It will create small creaks in your espresso puck that can prevent good flavour.

Step-8: Purging the Espresso:

Flush a blank shot by running some water through it before making your espresso. It will rinse any old coffee grounds or oils off. After tamped your espresso inserts the portafilter as soon as possible.

Step- 9: Pulling the Espresso:

Part-1: Start Brewing the Espresso:

Place your warmed espresso cup or shot glass underneath the portafilter and turn your machine on to start the shot. You should also start a timer. If you don't have a timer on your machine then start the brewing process and watch for visual cues.

It will take several seconds before the espresso begins to drip into the cup, and then develop into a gentle, even stream. When start dripping, it looks creamy and thick.

Part-2: Stop the Brewing process:

When you are brewing a single shot, you have to stop the shot after it brewed for around 20 seconds. If you are brewing a double shot, you have to let it go for 25 to 30 seconds. The best ratio for brewing espresso is "30mls in 30 seconds".

That's not all.

Step-10: Cleaning the Machine:

After brewing espresso, you should clean up your espresso machine. Remove your portafilter, and you have to clean up all the puck of moist espresso grounds. Use a dry cloth to wipe the inside clean. To purge the brew-head, you should run water through it for a few seconds. After some moments return the portafilter to the brew head.

You can also read more details about How to Clean Espresso Machine?

In Final: Serving Your Espresso

Serving is a beautiful art which is increasing your espresso experience and your test.

Before taking your espresso, drink some water. It will wipe your previous test memories, and also help your stomach.

You can add some sugar; take some biscotti or any types of cookies with your espresso.

Many people drink it as it is plain, or they add some different types of flavour.

"Serve and enjoy your espresso!"

What's your secret to making espresso? Share your tips in the comments below.