Espresso is a type of coffee that originated in Italy in the 1930s. Then, it eventually spread through Europe as well as the world. Espresso means "quick", which denotes that it is prepared and enjoyed in a short time. It can be said that a cup of Espresso coffee is about 30ml extracted through hot water of 90 degrees Celsius and pressure from 9-15 bar will bring up a perfect flavor of Espresso coffee. In fact, Espresso is not difficult to make and has many different recipes. However, achieving the standard level is not easy job.

What is Espresso?

Espresso is a method of brewing coffee in which a pure amount of coffee pressed under high pressure (9-15 bar - unit of pressure) and extracted by passing hot water with stable temperature to obtain the mixture we call Espresso.

When extraction is carried out, the structures of the coffee beans will break down and come out with the original flavor of the coffee. The essence in the coffee beans will combine with CO2 (retained in the coffee after roasting) to create an iridescent-golden foam on the surface called crema. The insoluble substances underneath give it a rich flavor called liquid. Typically, if espresso obtains a standard, the extraction rate will be 20% per 100-gram coffee powder.

Dosage and brew ratio of Espresso

Depending on your needs, you can choose the dosage and ratios of Espresso. There are basically three dosages for the three types of coffee portafilter: single basket (7g), double basket (15 - 18g), and triple basket (21g). There are many ratios of recipes that are modified from the classic Espresso. You can refer to the basic ratios as follows:

·      Short shot (Ristretto): Extracted within the early stage and got a very strong taste. Use 7g of finely ground coffee powder and only use about 15ml of water to brew.

·      Regular shot (Normale): This is the ratio widely used in the barista world (about 30ml of water).

·      Double shot (Doppio): The amount of water and coffee will be double Single shot (about 14g of coffee and 60ml of water).

Long shot (Lungo): The amount of espresso water will be 3 times of Single shot (up to 21ml). This is the most dilution between types of basic Espresso.

Roasted coffee beans

Normally, the process of roasting coffee beans should take about 25 - 30 seconds. The longer it takes, the higher the percentage of coffee being overheated and burned. Although the appearance of automatic coffee machines and grinders on the market increase significantly. The barista still need the intuitive perception to accurately assess the coarseness and fineness of the ground coffee powder.



Techniques of making Espresso coffee

Techniques of barista from distribution, compression, to pucking must be perfect for the optimal coffee extraction process. Usually, you should make experiment about 30g of ground coffee within 30 seconds. If the extraction is too fast, you should grind the coffee finer. If it takes longer than 30 seconds, adjust the coarser grind. Preparation is also very important. Making sure that the group head of the coffee machine is heated. Your hand mixer should be just right and not too tight when dispensing.

Espresso taste with coffee machine

The recent improvement coffee machines have contributed greatly to the world of barista or coffee lovers. When choosing a coffee machine, you must understand the capacity of controlling the temperature of the machine, the ability to pressurize, and using pressure to adjust the flavor when making Espresso coffee. The extraction time and the feature of the machine to froth milk are also important. On the other hand, even though the coffee machine is an effective assistant in making espresso, the barista's preparation skills are also extremely important. It is possible that depending on the type of coffee, there will be different methods of preparation and flavor to help your cup of coffee more balanced. Choose the right level of grinding to create a steady flow. Put and compress the coffee powder evenly in the basket to provide a balanced resistance to water pressure from the extract tubes; Making sure the brewed coffee has a stable temperature at the required level.



Sometimes in the process of making Espresso, the taste depends on the types of coffee or the degree of roasting, etc. A perfect Espresso coffee will depend on the different experience and taste of every person. A standard Espresso will have a thick, sparkling crema on top. In addition, it must have a strong aroma, and a balance between sour, sweet and bitter. The perfect combination when brewing will bring a perfect cup of Espresso coffee in terms of taste and look.

Image source: Yandex

#howtomakeespresso