Key Takeaways:
- Coffee Selection: The importance of choosing the right coffee roast, grind, and dose to impact flavor extraction and overall taste.
- Espresso Techniques: Detailed, step-by-step processes for brewing espresso with various equipment, including traditional espresso machines and alternative methods like Aeropress, French press, Moka pot, and Keurig.
- Equipment & Maintenance: The significance of using quality equipment, such as a flat burr grinder, and the need for regular maintenance to ensure consistent, high-quality espresso.
- Pressure & Timing: How precise control over brewing pressure and timing (20-30 seconds for espresso shots) is essential for optimal flavor extraction.
How to make espresso at home with or without an espresso maker? We’re sharing all the details in this guide.
Some days we drink 1-2 cups of coffee like the average coffee devotee we are. Other days we drink more like 3-4 cups. Coffee is addictive! It has almost become a daily necessity for most adults.
The majority of us love coffee, but not all can afford expensive espresso machines. Plus, espresso is susceptible to fluctuations when it comes to beverage quality. And it’s also by far the most complicated of all coffee formats.
Countless articles have their ways of perfecting espresso at home. One study even patented a mathematical model to ace espresso making. That’s how obsessed people are with coffee!
We have gathered a few tips in brewing exceptional espresso from various research. So today, we will teach you how to create espresso at home even without an espresso maker.
We’ll also walk you through the top practices for brewing a well-balanced espresso. And finally, we’ll teach you the equipment necessary to achieve a consistent shot.
Selecting Your Coffee
If you’re an avid coffee drinker, this topic is no longer new to you. “Choose the right coffee grounds,” tired of hearing this? But it’s the truth. Choosing your coffee grounds will determine how your espresso will taste.
How do you choose your espresso grounds? Does it depend on the brewing method, grind, or freshness? There are many factors in play when brewing espresso, and here are some:
Espresso Roast
What’s an espresso roast? We often hear marketers say that espresso is dark roast coffee- not true! You can use any beans that you want in your espresso machine.
Some people like to use a lighter roast for their espresso, and some prefer a darker roast. It’s just a matter of preference.
For us, we prefer the darker the roast coffee. It is easier to get those solubles when dark roast beans are used. Also, many espresso shots are going to be added to milk beverages.
Dark roast usually has more caramelized notes and smoky undertones than light roast. So, a darker roast of espresso compliments milk beverages better.
Espresso Grind
Getting your grind size right is one of the most critical elements in producing a great espresso. The right grind size is important because of espresso’s short brewing time.
Use a fine consistent grind when brewing. Getting the proper range will give you a balanced shot.
Brew a cup of espresso and check the brewing time. The goal when dialing in a grind of espresso in a espresso makers is 20-30 seconds.
Dialing in grind size below that goal, and you’ll get a bitter espresso. And beyond 30 seconds, you’ll get a bad espresso.
Espresso Pressure
Pressure has been a growing conversation in the coffee world. People are taking an interest in how pressure affects espresso making. Besides, it is the sweet spot in brewing great coffee.
But it isn’t a simple concept. Changing just a bit of a pressure curve may result in a completely different taste in your espresso.
Nine bars at the brew head is the recommended pressure for best espresso brewing. Some espresso makers have higher pressure at 15 bars of pressure. But higher pressure doesn’t mean better-tasting coffee.
Research by Luigi Bezzerra found that using 9 bars of pressure produces the best cup of coffee. He says that espresso brewed below or above 9 bars resulted in a weak coffee or too strong.
Since then, people have been setting their espresso pressure at 9 bars.
Espresso Dose
The dose is simply the amount of coffee you put in the portafilter, somewhere around 5-30 grams. It’s the first step of creating your espresso.
When dosing, it’s beneficial to ask yourself how much espresso you’re aiming to make. Are you seeking to create more espresso? Then you’ll need a large dose. The more espresso you need, the larger the quantity.
The Right Grinder
If you want a barista-quality espresso, you’ll need good equipment. To start, make sure you invest in a good coffee grinder.
Getting consistent grind particles can help you get the best out of your coffee. We recommend a flat burr grinder as it is the best for producing uniform grind sizes.
How to Make Espresso With an Espresso Machine
If you have a home espresso machine but don’t know how to use it, here’s a step by step guide to making espresso.
Step 1: Grind and measure your beans.
Use dark roast coffee beans for your espresso machine. To create a single espresso shot, get 6-8 grams of coffee grounds. For an average double shot, take about 15 grams. You can use a kitchen scale for accuracy.
Espresso machines need an extra fine grind. So, you must use the finest setting on your burr grinder.
Step 2: Distribute and tamp
After grinding and measuring your grounds, place your grounds in the portafilter. Make sure to slide your fingers across the grounds to create a flat surface.
This makes sure that everything is evenly distributed even before you tamp. Next, tamp it down. Do a nice firm press with everything aligned from your wrist to your elbow, then do a little twist.
Step 3: Pull your shot
Before putting the portafilter into the machine: Run the machine to clear the ground head. Next, lock in the portafilter and position your shot glass underneath to start pulling your shot.
Start your timer right before you activate the switch. Your espresso shot should be ready after 20 to 30 seconds.
While waiting, take a moment to appreciate the aroma and check if the stream is even.
While waiting, it’s a good practice to check if the stream is even. That will tell you whether you did an excellent job tamping or not. The goal is to, of course, get an event stream.
Step 4: Prepare the milk.
If you’re trying to make an espresso-based beverage, you’ll need to heat milk. We recommend doing it while you’re pulling the shot. When making steamed milk, find the sweet spot with just enough bubbles and foam.
Step 5: Clean
Don’t leave your machine without cleaning and drying all your equipment.
How to Make Espresso at Home Without an Espresso Machine
Craving for an espresso lately but can’t go out? Don’t worry. There are various ways you can recreate your favorite espresso at home.
You don’t have to buy your expensive espresso machine. You can make espresso using an Aeropress, Keurig coffee machine, a french press, or a Moka pot.
How to Make Espresso Coffee With an Aeropress
If you want to make your latte at home and you have an Aeropress, you’re lucky! In some ways, Aeropress can mimic what an espresso machine does.
The espresso machine uses 9 bars of pressure to extract flavors from the grounds. Aeropress doesn’t have quite as much pressure, so how to make espresso using an Aeropress?
Supplies You Need:
- Aeropress
- Funnel
- Filter cap
- Paper Filter
- A coffee scale
Ingredients
- 18g Finely ground coffee (we recommend dark roast)
- 125g hot water
Steps:
Step 1:
Measure about 18g of your dark roast, finely ground coffee beans.
Step 2:
Once you’ve scaled your grounds, set up one paper filter into the filter cap, and then rinse it with warm water.
Step 3:
Next, drop the funnel on top of the Aeropress, and pour it on your grounds.
Step 4:
We’ll be pouring 125g of hot water onto your grounds. But first, wet the grounds with about 30g of hot water and give it a couple of stirs to make sure everything is damp.
Step 5:
Wait about 15 seconds, add in the rest of the hot water, then give it some quick stirs.
Step 6:
Slide the plunger in and wait 1 ½ minute.
Step 7:
Press the plunger down nice and slow to compress the air out of the Aeropress.
Step 8:
Enjoy your 3 ounces of espresso and mix it with your favorite espresso beverage!
How to Make Espresso Coffee With a French Press
If you’re a coffee-lover, chances are you own a french press at home. Even if the French press requires a much courses grind, you can still use it to make an espresso. Here’s how to make espresso using a French press.
Supplies You Need:
- French Press
- Kettle
- Thermometer
- A coffee scale
Ingredients
- 28.3 g Fine ground coffee
- 2 cups hot water
Steps:
Step 1:
Preheat your french press with hot water by filling it up with hot water for a couple of minutes.
Step 2:
Heat 195 degrees of water using an electric kettle. You can also heat water and measure its temperature using a kitchen thermometer.
Step 3:
Place your fine ground coffee in the french press.
Step 4:
Get your espresso blooming by adding a bit of water to the grounds. Make sure you dampen the grounds but not soak them with water.
Step 5:
Add the rest of the water and stir.
Step 6:
Place the french press lid on top but do not plunge it in yet. Let it brew and steep for a few minutes.
Step 7:
Press the lid down and enjoy your espresso.
How to Make Espresso Coffee With a Moka Pot
Brewing espresso using a Moka pot is pretty straightforward. It uses steam pressure to make espresso. It can also be a very inexpensive substitute to make espresso at home.
Supplies You Need:
- Moka Pot
- Damp Towel
- A stovetop
Ingredients
- Fine ground coffee
- 2 cups hot water
Steps:
Step 1:
Fill the bottom container of your Moka pot with filtered water. Avoid overfilling because it may waterlog the coffee and affect its flavor.
Step 2:
Place the funnel and pour over your coffee. Level the coffee using your fingers but do not tamp the coffee. Tamping the coffee creates pressure in the Moka pot that may affect the coffee’s flavor.
The ground should be loosely packed. Packing it too tightly may lead to over-extraction.
Step 3:
Situate the filter basket back into the base and screw the top on securely. Now, your Moka pot is ready to be placed on the stove.
Step 4:
Set your heat source to moderate heat to create a gradual and controlled extraction. Keep the lid open and wait for the water to be forced through the coffee. It will start oozing slowly from the spout.
Step 5:
As it flows more heavily, it removes the Moka pot from the heat source.
Step 6:
Serve and mix it up with your favorite milk beverage.
How to Make Espresso Coffee With Keurig
Keurigs brews regular coffee, but we can create espresso with them. While standard espresso machines use hot water and pressure to produce espresso, Keurig does not.
Instead, we’re going to make cups of concentrated coffee that are close to the taste of espresso.
To set the right expectation, what we’re going to get using a Keurig machine is a dark, concentrated coffee. Expect not to see a rich crema, but it would taste close to espresso.
Supplies You Need:
- Keurig Machine
- Coffee Cup
- Espresso Cups
Ingredients
- K-cups
- Water
Steps:
Step 1:
Run some clean water through the Keurig machine to remove any dust or particles that may have accumulated.
Step 2:
Choose dark roast k cups because it’s the closest to an espresso roast.
Step 3:
Measure a 1:2 coffee water ratio. In a Keurig mini, water measures around 6 oz.
Step 4:
Place the cup under the machine’s brew head and press the button.
Step 5:
Once you’re done brewing, pour over the espresso to a larger cup, and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Espresso Stronger Than Coffee?
What is your perception of coffee strength? Because that will determine whether espresso is stronger than coffee. But espresso has a stronger flavor than other popular methods like the pour-over method.
A single shot of espresso contains less than 12 cups of brewed coffee in terms of caffeine content.
Can you make espresso with regular coffee?
There is no coffee bean specifically created for espresso. But there are recommended espresso grinds. That means you do not have to buy a coffee bag labeled with “espresso bean” to make one.
You can use any bean to make espresso, even regular beans.
Why Are Espresso Machines So Expensive?
Espresso machines can cost up to a ridiculous amount prices depending on the brand. They are typically priced at around $20,000. But why exactly are they expensive?
Research and Development
Companies spend a lot developing these coffee machines. They do a lot of work to produce a device that can make life easier for you and the baristas.
Like your smartphone, the more work your device does, the more expensive it goes.
Materials Used
Espresso machines have internal parts that are costly when added up. Its external features also add to the cost. The prices of these parts drive up the cost of the machines.
Brand Name
The brand is one of the main determinants of an espresso machine’s price. Brands like La Marzocco, Slayer Steam LPx, and Rancilio are trusted brands in the coffee industry.
Since these brands have a good reputation, they raise their prices too.
Espresso machines vary in price, and you do not have to buy the most costly to get the best. So, before purchasing an espresso machine, think about what you need.
What kind of beverages do you usually make? What’s your budget?
Average Lifetime of an Espresso Machine
Fully automatic espresso coffee machines can last up to 5-15 years. To maximize its lifespan, you should perform some routine maintenance and build good daily brewing habits.
Maintaining an Espresso Machine
Owning a coffee espresso machine is like owning a car. Maintenances are scheduled, and part replacements come annually. If you want to avoid corrective maintenance, follow these:
Clean as you work
Make it a habit to wipe your machine’s steam wand after using it. Use different colored towels for various beverages. This will help prevent obstructions and bacteria buildup.
Use some towels
Clean your steaming wand using a damp towel and some cleaning solution. Change the towels every 4 hours to make sure you’re using a clean towel.
It’s also a best practice to use different colored towels for every beverage you’re going to clean up. For example, use white towels for milk, yellow for soya milk, green for green tea, etc.
Use hot water
Use clean hot water to remove coffee residue from the coffee filter basket.
Schedule Machine Decalcification
Schedule a machine decalcification every few months. It’ll make sure that your espresso is performing at its best.
Annual Replacements
Replace the following parts annually to avoid bigger problems with your machine.
- Shoulder bolt shims
- The steam and the hot water valve
- The expansion valve
- The anti-suction valve
- The brew actuator bearing
- The waste pipe
- The portafilter basket
Final Words
Perfecting your espresso will take time. You’ll have to ace all the mechanical skill sets required from a barista to perfect your espresso.
If you have an espresso at home, then great, you’ll be able to practice these needed skills. But if not, then try out one of the methods above and tell us how it went.
Finally, espresso machine or not, make sure to take care of your coffee equipment. Being a barista isn’t only about making good coffee. It’s also about being able to maintain your coffee gadgets.
Coffee Tip! Check out our article on how temperature can affect your coffee’s overall taste to help you make the best coffee!
