How To Impress Friends With Your Espresso
The finer details of making fine espresso
Espresso is the invention of Italy and the result of wanting fine, flavorful coffee. And while not everyone enjoys the taste of pure espresso, the addition in coffee drinks is undeniably good. You can make great espresso in your home now too, with a little help.
Setting up your coffee bar
Buying a good espresso machine is the first order of business. Without the proper machine, you may as well hand out cups of water.
Find an espresso machine that is electronic and is powered with steam.
This will allow you to make espresso that is full-bodied and closer to the authentic version. The hot water pushes the oils out of the ground beans and into the water to create a fantastic cup.
Included with most espresso machines is a portafilter and brew basket. The brew basket holes should be small enough to keep coffee in and still let water through.
You will also want a heat resistant steam pitcher for warming and foaming milk.
Hit them with your best shot
To make a great espresso shot, you will need finely ground espresso and a tamping device. This is something to push the grounds into the portafilter’s brew basket at about twenty five pounds of pressure.
This means that the top of the grounds will be smooth and there is no space between the espresso grounds and the sides of the basket.
The water needs to go through the grounds, not a space.
Firmly place the portafiler in the machine and turn it on. Into the shot glasses or pitchers you should see thick espresso shots that form a nice caramel crema top with approximately twenty five to thirty seconds.
Then you have perfect espresso to make anything from cappuccinos to lattes and mochas.
For the best espresso drink, heat your milk first and then add the espresso.
The right espresso bean should come from either a coffee house roaster or from your favorite coffee house in bean form.