We know that many of you make espresso at home. While the equipment can look intimidating, there’s plenty you can do to adjust your shots into perfection.
Here’s our general guideline for espresso, and then we’ll show you how to experiment with it:
For a 2 shot pull (which we recommend), use 20-24 grams of ground coffee. Time the shots from the first drip of coffee to when the machine stops pouring. We think 24-27 seconds is ideal.
At this point, we’re ready to calibrate the shots to make them perfect. This is something we do in the cafe daily, but at home you’ll probably be making adjustments over the course of a few days. The perfect espresso is a matter of personal taste. Here are some tricks to dial in your espresso machine.
The perfect shot depends on 2 spectrums: strength and flavor.
Strength is the easy one. If your shot tastes weak, increase the amount of coffee grounds in the portafilter. If it tastes too strong, decrease the amount of grounds.
Flavor is determined by how long the espresso shot pulls. If it goes too short, the coffee will taste sour and overly acidic. If it goes too long, the shot will taste like ash, paper, or chemicals. The perfect shot is in between the two, well rounded with a balance of bitter and sweet. The timing of the shot is determined by how the coffee is ground. Too coarse, and the shot will pull too fast; too fine and the shot will pull too long. If your shot tastes like chemicals, make the grind coarser; if it tastes sour, make the grind finer. A small adjustment goes a long way, so go easy.
One final tip: the last few drips of the shot can be especially bitter. To avoid this, try pulling your cup out from below the portafilter as soon as you hear your machine stop brewing.
That’s all it takes to make a perfect espresso. When you add a new coffee, you’ll probably have to make some adjustments to get it dialed in. And sometimes big weather changes, like humidity, can also affect how the shot pulls. With practice, you’ll be able to consistently pull shots that you find delicious.
If you need some beans for your espresso machine, try these coffee that we think taste great as espresso!
