GoKawiilBrewing a pot of coffee requires some precision to get it right. Experts use the golden ratio for brewing drip, but there's a similar equation for making creamy, balanced espresso shots. Pack too much, as I was, or too little, and you'll notice it doesn't taste quite like the stuff you get from a high-end cafe or Italian caffetteria.
Espresso is surely one of coffee's fussier forms, so if you're going through all the steps to make shots at home for cappuccinos, lattes or flat whites, you might as well do it right.
The good news? You don't need a thousand-dollar espresso machine. Good espresso is about technique. If you hone your measurements and brewing skills, you can pull high-quality shots with a budget-friendly model.
After first realizing I'd been eyeballing my espresso measurements, I decided to ask an expert. Specifically, I wanted to know the exact amount of coffee to use for a single shot.
Kaleena Teoh is a coffee educator and co-founder of Coffee Project New York. She shared her thoughts, tips, and common mistakes to watch out for when packing pucks and brewing espresso.
Espresso basics
Splurged on an espresso machine? Make sure you're getting the most out of it with these essential tips. Hispanolistic/Getty
"The word 'espresso' itself is not just a drink, it's actually a brewing method that involves pushing hot water through a compacted puck of coffee," Teoh said, which can be accomplished through a machine with a boiler, or manually, as in a stovetop espresso pot. It requires a specific pressure and temperature calibration, but a high-end machine isn't necessary.
"The two most important things are the machine's ability to maintain pressure and temperature as you pull the shot," she said. In most home-use models, you may not be able to make any adjustments, but gauges or displays that indicate pressure and temperature can be reassuring.
Ensure you're closely following the manufacturer's process, which may include preheating the water before brewing. Ensuring that your espresso machine is clean is also essential for quality control, as regularly brushing grounds from the portafilter loading point and periodically flushing it with hot water are crucial steps in maintaining optimal performance.
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