Espresso is the root of many of the most popular coffee drinks ordered in coffee shops today. As such, it’s important to have a technical understanding of espresso if you want to become a good barista.
What is espresso?
We’re all pretty familiar with coffee. It’s been in our orbits ever since we were young. Mom brewed pots of coffee on the kitchen counter. Grandpa swore by his paper cup of McDonald’s coffee and raved about the senior discount. To answer the question, espresso and coffee are both derived from hot water and ground coffee beans. The key difference between the two is:
- the size of the grounds
- the amount of water used to brew the grounds
- the pressure and speed at which grounds are brewed
Coffee, whether it’s drip, french press, or pour over, is usually a 1:20 ratio of grounds to water. Additionally, the coffee beans are ground to a coarse grind and the water flows through the grounds at a slow rate.
A standard shot of espresso is much more concentrated because it uses less water. The ratio of grounds to water for an espresso is typically between 1:1 and 1:3 (we prefer 1:1.5 for a bold taste and creamy texture). Additionally, the coffee beans are ground to a very fine grind and the “shot” of espresso is “pulled” very quickly to produce the pressure needed to introduce fine air bubbles. This process creates the “crema” associated with a great shot of espresso.
How do you make espresso?
Espresso can be made using a few different methods. Automated espresso machines have been on the market for years and continue to get better and better. The are great for convenience and many today allow you to adjust settings to get the espresso you prefer. On the other side are the manual espresso options. These options are usually cheaper but require more time to perfect the process.
Espresso Machines
The most typical way to make espresso is with an automated espresso machine. There are so many options when it comes to espresso machines and choosing the right espresso machine for you is really all about your budget and how much control you want to have over the process. Many espresso machines include a hopper to hold the unground beans, a grinder to grind the beans, and a portafilter to hold the grounds through which water is pushed. They are pre-programmed to grind just the right amount of beans and push just the right amount of water through the grounds at the perfect pressure. We’ve put together a buying guide with some of our recommendations. Click the “Read Now” button below to check them out.
Buying Guide
Top 5 Espresso Machines
For In-Home Coffee Bars
Manual Espresso Methods
Making espresso without an automatic espresso machine is a great way to get into making espresso and all the great espresso drinks without breaking the bank. Great espresso can be achieved with the AeroPress, a french press, or a Moka Pot. If you use the AeroPress, we also recommend the Fellow Prismo attachment which will aid in the creation of a nice crema. Click the “Read Now” button below for a guide on how to brew espresso with the AeroPress.
Guide
How to Brew Espresso
with an AeroPress
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