Follow our easy espresso brew guide to make a perfect shot at home. Our step-by-step instructions will help you master the art of espresso and get the best from your coffee machine, ensuring a great caffeine buzz every time.
Step 1: Prepare your portafilter
Start by making sure your machine and portafilter are clean. If rinsing your portafilter, be sure to wipe it dry before adding in your ground coffee.
Top tip: Cleaning your equipment will prevent bitter or burnt tastes from old coffee affecting your fresh brew.
Step 2: Preheat your cup
If your cup or mug is cold, preheat it with a bit of hot water. Discard the water once the cup is warm.
Step 3: Weigh & grind coffee
Weigh 17 - 19g of coffee and grind it to a fine consistency similar to powdered sugar (if not already pre-ground). Add it to your dry portafilter.
Top tip: Drying the portafilter will prevent the dry coffee grounds from getting wet before the main extraction is meant to take place.
Step 4: Distribute, tamp & brew
Distribute the coffee evenly in your basket and tamp firmly, ensuring you maintain a flat, even surface. This is important for consistent extraction. Brush away any stray grounds from the top and sides of the portafilter. Flush the group head, then insert your portafilter into the machine. Place your cup below the portafilter to collect your espresso.
Top tip: Press the button to engage your machine as soon as you insert the portafilter to prevent your dry coffee bed from getting wet before the main extraction.
Step 5: Knock out & enjoy!
Once the coffee has finished extracting, remove your cup and knock out your used coffee grounds. Be sure to clean your machine so you're ready for your next cup. Enjoy!
Espresso Coffee
Using an espresso machine is the only brewing method that achieves a truly concentrated shot of espresso. Whether you like it straight or mixed with milk or water, the guide below will help you brew amazing espresso.
Personalize your cup of coffee:
Manipulating the grind size, dose, and brew time will extract different flavors from your coffee. Personalize your cup to your taste by using the following:
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Adjust your grind: Coarser grinds will produce a lighter-bodied brew, while finer grinds will give you a fuller-bodied coffee.
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Adjust your dose: By changing the amount of coffee you use, you can adjust the strength of your coffee to your liking.
- Adjust your brew time: Similar to a tea bag, leaving coffee grounds in contact with hot water for too long can result in an overly bitter and over-extracted cup of coffee. Our brew time is just a guideline – decrease or increase the brew time to adjust the intensity of the brew to your taste.
