How to Make a Perfect Espresso at Home

A glass cup is being filled with freshly brewed espresso from a coffee machine, with steam rising from the pour. | Hustle Coffee

Finally, an all-in-one guide to help you achieve the perfect espresso shot at home. This simple, six-minute, step-by-step tutorial includes valuable tips, techniques, and our special espresso recipe. Get a pen and paper, and say goodbye to confusion when your espresso doesn't turn out how you want. You don't need any other guides.

A Short History Of the Espresso

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A common misconception is that a specific type of bean or grind creates an espresso. In reality, the ideal espresso is achieved through the precise balance of pressure and brew time. An excellent espresso is characterized by its intense concentration and dark, full-bodied flavor, but it is filtered, which sets it apart from Turkish-style coffee.

In 1903, Luigi Bezzera, an Italian, introduced espresso by incorporating pressure in the coffee brewing process. The term “espresso” indicates “pressed out” or made specifically for a consumer's request, extracting the best qualities of the coffee bean and resulting in a superior cup of coffee. Making a proper espresso can be nearly as sensual as savoring it. You will require an espresso machine, high-quality espresso beans such as Hustle Coffee, and essential expertise.

Initially, fresh coffee is ground into the portafilter and then manually pressed using a tamp to compact the grounds into a “cake.” Alternatively, you can opt for the easier route and use an espresso pod with the precise measure and necessary compactness.

Subsequently, you will depend on a high-quality espresso machine to push hot water through the coffee, producing a shot of espresso. A well-brewed cup should have a smooth mouthfeel and a consistent hazel-colored crema on top, devoid of the dark “tiger” lines in an inferior cup.

Understanding Espresso

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An espresso is a concentrated coffee known for its strong flavor, small serving size, and the high pressure in its preparation.

Suppose you want to be technical about it. In that case, the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) states that espresso is a 25–35 ml drink made from 7–9 grams of coffee by forcing clean water at 9–10 atmospheres of pressure and at a temperature of 90.5-96.1ºC through the coffee. The coffee grind should be such that the brewing time is 20–30 seconds.

A good range is 20 to 30 seconds, although it's important to note that there are no strict rules. Coffee extracts can vary depending on grind size, coffee origin, roast profile, and other variables.

Let's examine the experts' tips for creating a barista-quality espresso.

How To Pull Off a Barista Quality Espresso at Home

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How to Make a Perfect Espresso at Home? Enjoying a delightful espresso, latte, or flat white at your preferred coffee shop is a real pleasure, but a cup of coffee at your local Starbucks costs $3.50, and you can just as easily do it at home.

Getting the perfect espresso doesn't need to be as complex as it seems. Once you have the right gear and knowledge, you can start making fantastic shots in your kitchen.

Dose, Yield, Tamping, and Time make up an espresso recipe. Balancing these elements will allow you to duplicate a fantastic shot and promptly resolve possible issues. Continue reading this guide and replicate that high-quality barista espresso experience at home.

Coffee Dose

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The coffee dose is the amount of ground coffee placed in the basket. Select your dose according to the basket in your portafilter. Opt for a coffee dose ranging from 7-10g of ground coffee for single baskets, 16-18g for double baskets, and 20-22g for triple baskets. Remember to always grind the coffee into a clean and dry basket.

To ensure the accuracy of your dose, weigh the coffee scale with the portafilter on top. Grind the coffee into the basket and place the portafilter back on the coffee scale.

Espresso Yield

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Once you determine your dose, you will select your yield – the total weight, in grams, of your espresso shot. We always advise weighing coffee in grams instead of using volume measurements. The volume of a shot varies depending on the coffee and its roast. Fresh coffee produces more crema and weighs less than a shot made with older beans.

Dose and yield are often expressed as a ratio, measuring the amount of ground coffee to the liquid espresso output. Espresso ratios are usually between 1:1 and 1:3, with a general guideline of using smaller ratios for darker roasts and larger ratios for lighter roasts. For this recipe, our recommended ratio is 1:1.5. We'll use a brew ratio of 20g of ground coffee to 30g of liquid espresso.

Time

a shot of espresso being poured into a glass | hustle coffee

The shot's duration, measured in seconds, connects everything. The goal is to have your shot take between 25 and 30 seconds. To achieve this, pay attention to your coffee grinder. Adjusting the grind size lets you control the speed at which water can pass through the coffee bed. Visualize coarse coffee as rocks and fine coffee as sand. The water will move more rapidly through the coarser coffee, similar to how it passes through rocks more quickly. Altering the grind enables you to precisely adjust the duration of your shot. You'll likely need to adjust your grind daily. As the coffee ages, your shots will pour faster, and you may need to grind the coffee finer.

Distribution and Tamping

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Ensure the coffee puck is level for an even shot. After dosing and grinding into the portafilter, gently tap the sides to distribute the coffee evenly without causing any cracks. Once level, proceed to tamp.

Hold the coffee tamper with your index finger and thumb like a doorknob. Position yourself perpendicular to the portafilter and insert the tamper into the portafilter basket. Keep your arm at a 90-degree angle. Gently lean into the tamp, applying slow and steady pressure. The pressure level is not as important as the need for consistency and repeatability.

Now that the coffee bed is leveled and tamped, it's time to pull the perfect shot. Before you begin:

  1. Ensure your machine is warmed up and ready to use.
  2. Run water through the group head to ensure it's hot and clean.
  3. Insert the portafilter into the group and secure it, ensuring it's snug but not overly tight.
  4. Place your scale and cup on the drip tray, start your shot and timer, and stop the shot once you reach your desired yield.
  5. Aim for a 1:1.5 ratio within a 30-second shot time.

If your shot exceeds 30 seconds, coarsen your grind. If your shot finishes in under 25 seconds, adjust your grind to make it finer.

Taste every shot, even if it's not perfect. You might find a different recipe you prefer. This is the beauty of making espresso at home – you're both the barista and the consumer.

Improving your home espresso-making skills takes time, patience, and practice. If you don't succeed the first time, don't worry; just keep practicing.

Check out our selection of Espresso Coffee Beans to find your perfect blend.

Recipe

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20g of finely ground Hustle Coffee
30g of Water
Press the coffee ground down firmly with a tamper
Extraction time 25-30 seconds
Look for a color resembling hazelnut-caramel
Avoid these common mistakes when making espresso:

  • Using too much or too little ground coffee.
  • Not pressing down firmly enough causes the water to pass through the filter too quickly, affecting the extraction rate.
  • Attempting to brew 2 cups with just one extraction.
  • Leaving the coffee in the machine for over 30 seconds.

Keep an eye out for dark lines in the crema, as they can add a bitter flavor to your espresso.

Make Excellent Espresso At Home With Hustle Coffee

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Learning how to create espresso coffee is just the start, as mentioned earlier. Thanks to our four different blends, you can enjoy various delicious coffee drinks to power your hustle. We firmly believe everyone should be able to kick off their mornings with a perfect cup of espresso. This is why our strong coffee blends are created to help you push through the day and power your story. Ready to grind? Do it with Hustle Coffee on your side.

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