There are quite a number of ways to make an espresso. Checkout the list of ways below before we jump on to the details.
Espresso machine
With this machine in hand and a bit of experience in operating it under your belt, your espresso will be a stunner. There are automatic espresso machines that have inbuilt grinders, and mechanisms for filling and tamping coffee in the portafilter, by just pressing a button. But they’re expensive and also there isn’t room for customisation. Few semi automatic machines offer you both options. Either you can opt for preset times for a shot or a double shot of espresso. Or you can also start and stop the machine manually. Now, just follow the simple steps and you’ll be a pro at making an espresso!
1. Portafilter must be clean – Basics first. If there’s moisture and/or coffee grounds in the portafilter, then that’s a big no. It’ll alter the flavor of your upcoming espresso. So, keep the portafilter neat and clean.
2. Weight it out and grind – Keep the portafilter on the weighing scale and tare. To make a single shot of espresso, you need 9-10g of roasted beans (which comes out to be 1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons). And for a double shot, that quantity doubles (i.e 18-20g) of roasted beans. Before grinding, just allow your grinder to run for a few seconds to get rid of whatever was left from the previous time. What’s being done here is removing the old stuff, and preparing for the new. All grind details have been provided in a separate post on espresso here. You can look into it and then come back here. One more thing, you can just grind the coffee directly into your portafilter (espresso basket).
3. Distribute and then tamp the ground coffee – Ok, now the ground coffee is in your portafilter, and it’ll be in the form of a small mountain at the top. With your index finger or with a distribution tool, make the coffee level with the top edge of the portafilter. Now, place the portafilter on a strong and flat surface. Take your tamper and press down on ground coffee in the portafilter by applying some pressure.
If there are any air gaps in the coffee puck, then by compressing ground coffee using a tamper, that’ll be removed and it will also make it level in the best possible way. No need to tamp it like a hulk, just apply a decent amount of pressure while using tamper. Make sure the tamping is done straight down so that the coffee grounds are even and perfectly compacted. Don’t tamp at an angle. Knockbox is a great tool to tamp and then discard the used coffee grounds.
4. Pulling the shot – Just turn on the machine and run it briefly without the portafilter in place, so that it’ll rinse the group head (the slot where you put in the portafilter) and get rid of whatever was left in it from the previous time. Immediately next, lock the portafilter into the group head, place a Demitasse cup or any other cup under it, and press the button to start brewing.
Taking your own time is good for a few things right? But, not here. After rinsing or purging, followed by inserting the portafilter into the machine, if brewing isn’t done immediately, then it may cause the topmost area or surface of ground coffee to burn, due to the heat from the group head, which will have an impact on flavor (increased bitterness). In fact, if it’s not brewed immediately, the barista loses a point in the World Barista Championships. Alright, so you’ve pressed the button, in around 25-30 seconds your espresso must be in the cup. If it’s done this way, then congrats, espresso is a done topic. But, if it’s taking you lesser or greater time than the range which is 25-30 secs, then your grind size may be extra coarse or extra fine respectively. So, always be careful about the grind size, practice the steps, and you’ll be a pro at making espressos.
After all this, clean the portafilter by discarding the puck and purging the group head. Next time when you make an espresso, you won’t need purging or cleaning etc.
Portable espresso maker
Another option for home espresso brewing if it’s not possible to buy an espresso machine is a portable espresso maker. It’s not that costly and also brews a good shot of espresso in terms of quality. It’s handy, is smaller in size, and can easily be carried anywhere. Going out for camping or using it at home etc, it can be used anywhere. Here, you need to add water to it manually and then pump it, to make an espresso. In terms of the final drink, well… if you consider an espresso prepared from an espresso machine to be excellent, then this portable espresso maker gives you espresso which is above average in quality. But at such a low price, it’s worth it.
Nespresso machine
If you don’t have the time to craft an espresso like a barista using an espresso machine or if you don’t want to get into grinding, measuring, tamping or other stuff, and instead would just use single serve pods having pre proportioned coffee to get an espresso, then nespresso is the best option. When it comes to convenience, nothing beats it. Regarding the taste, well it’s quite good and worth it for a machine that’s so convenient to use, and which comes at a low price when compared to an espresso machine.
Other regular coffee brewing equipment like Moka pot, French press, Aeropress
If you’re looking to prepare a classic cafe styled espresso, but without proper espresso equipment, then…that’s not possible. But, if you’re looking to make a drink that’s a bit similar to espresso, then that can be done, which is a bold espresso kinda coffee. Moka Pot, AeroPress and French Press can all be used to get this kinda drink. It’ll be flavorful and good in its own way, but the super concentrated flavor, texture and crema of a true espresso will not be there. Overall, coffee made from these 3 equipment is not gonna be as strong as an espresso, because of the ‘significant pressure difference’ amongst espresso machines and these 3 equipment.