How to make a great expresso?!
How to make a great expresso?
Answers:
There are several elements to making the best espresso at home.
1. Bean Quality - Obviously as fresh as possible.
2. Roast - If you can buy the beans "green" and home roast, you'll notice a 100% difference in your espresso. Otherwise, buy them from a local roaster or coffee shop you like (not Starbucks).
3. Grind - It's important to get a good grind on your beans. It should be clumpy, like sand. Not too fine (or the water goes right through it) or too coarse (it'll get held up).
4. Tamp - The process of "packing" your espresso in a portafilter. You should be using about 30 pounds of pressure.
5. Water - Clean, good water.
6. Water Temp - The ideal temp is about 95 degrees centigrade.
7. Pressure - There are different ways to "pull" espresso. A good pump driven will extract a great espresso (like a Gaggia Classic or Rancilio Rocky).
you need to have a GOOD ESPRESSO machine and espresso beans that arn't burnt. When you grind the beans the grind should feel like flour. Hand tamping is better than machines that do it all. The espresso should come out in strands like spaghetti first dark then the cremma should flow nice and thick and a light golden color. If you see a whiteness on the top of the shot you have pulled to much acid from the beans and the grind should be adjusted. hope that helped. :)