how to make an expresso

• You can't make espresso with any old coffee machine. You'll need special equipment and the right coffee beans to make a true espresso shot.

1. Find an espresso machine. If you don't already have a machine (or know someone who does) and want to make real espresso, prepare to make an investment.¹ By definition, the water used to make espresso must pass through the grounds under a certain amount of pressure (at least 9 units, or bars, of water pressure, though coffeehouses use machines with 15 bars of pressure to get more consistent results) and be 190 degrees Fahrenheit or hotter.²³Therefore, you need a machine to make espresso, and the better machines will cost well over $100.⁴
2. Buy or borrow a grinder if your espresso machine takes loose grounds. There are two kinds of coffee grinders out there:
   • Blade grinders—People who grind beans for regular coffee at home usually have blade grinders. This type of grinder has two blades that spin rapidly to chop up the beans—kind of like a food processor does vegetables. However, blade grinders are not ideal for grinding beans for espresso, as they generate heat and don't produce consistent grounds.⁵ If you look at coffee ground with blades, you can see both fine powder and large chunks of coffee in the same mixture.
   • Burr grinders—Burr grinders produce a much more consistent product because the distance between the opposing wheels determines the fineness of the grounds.⁶⁷ Be aware that burr grinders tend to be more expensive than blade grinders.
3. Get some espresso beans. Check to see whether your machine takes pre-measured pods of espresso or loose grounds.
   • If you use loose grounds, make sure to use a coffee blend for making espresso. Arabica beans are often used for espresso.⁸
4. Espresso Cups. You can put espresso in any kind of cup you like, but there are special, smaller made especially for espresso and cappucino.⁹ These smaller cups hold the standard 1.5 ounce espresso.

Step 2: Preparation

• Some espresso machines take commercial pods of coffee grounds that allow you to skip most of the preparation.¹⁰ Still, it's good to know the factors that go into making a good shot of espresso.

1. Grind the beans. Typically, it takes about 7 grams of finely ground coffee for every 2 ounces of water to produce one shot of espresso.¹¹
2. Tamp the grounds. Use the tamper that came with your machine to apply to the grounds.¹²
3. Try pressing on your home scale to see how hard you should press to reach that amount of pressure.¹³ Some machines will apply pressure for you, but you still need to tamp the grounds lightly before inserting them.
4. Insert the grounds into the machine as the manual directs.
5. enjoy :)