Crafting espresso drinks at home can be a very creative outlet and can set you up nicely for a short-term job or long-term career in the coffee industry. However, espresso machines can be pricey and dropping hundreds of dollars on a machine before acquiring the basic skills might be scary. Fortunately, there are some inexpensive ways to hone your skills when it comes to making espresso.
Today, we’re going to share how you can create a shot of espresso with a few basic tools, including a scale, a grinder, and an AeroPress. While it may not be exactly what you’ll get from an automated or semi-automated espresso machine, it’s a close and will give you the base you need to create all your favorite espresso drinks.
What You’ll Need
- AeroPress
- AeroPress filter
- Scale
- Grinder
- 60 grams hot water
- 21 grams coffee beans
Optional:
- Fellow Prismo attachment (creates a build-up of pressure to create a smoother shot)
Grinding the Beans
To get the best espresso shot, you’ll want to use a darker roasted bean and a very fine grind. The darker roast will provide the stronger flavor associated with rich espresso and the fine grind, combined with the pressure and short brew time, will allow for the best extraction of the coffee.
We’ve found that a 1:3 ratio of grounds to water provides a nicely concentrated shot. A shot of espresso is typically 1.5 ounces. To achieve that amount of liquid at the 1:3 ratio, you’ll need 21 grams of coffee beans and 60 grams of water.
Place your beans in a grinder and grind them as fine as possible. 21 grams of coffee beans in should yield 20 grams of fine ground coffee out.
Setting Up
- Place AeroPress filter into the filter cap (skip this step if you are using the Fellow Prismo).
- Place espresso cup or coffee mug on scale.
- Place AeroPress on cup or mug.
- Zero the scale.
- Place 20 grams of espresso ground coffee into the AeroPress.
- Zero the scale again.
Brewing the Espresso
- Add 60 grams of hot water (between 190 and 202 degrees Fahrenheit).
- Allow about 15 to 20 seconds for “bloom” (air bubbles on top of the grounds) to form.
- Remove entire cup or mug with AeroPress on top from the scale.
- Insert AeroPress plunger and plunge hard and fast to create as much pressure as possible.
And that’s it. As mentioned, it’s not what you’ll get with an in-home espresso machine but it’s a great, inexpensive way to start learning how to create great flavored espresso drinks or even some latte art.
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