Step By Step to Making Espresso Coffee Perfectly

In the coffee beans you use, the way you grind the coffee beans, how much espresso grind coffee you use, and the way you brew it in an espresso machine, making espresso coffee is a different process from regular coffee making. Nevertheless, the process is straightforward, and a little practice making espresso coffee brings great results.

Follow these simple steps for making espresso coffee:

Choose the right espresso coffee beans.

Start with the dark brownish black coffee roast often sold as "espresso roast," as well as "Italian roast" or "French roast." These are roasted so dark that some of the essential coffee oils rise to the surface of the coffee beans, giving them a glossy coating.

Grind the espresso beans to the right espresso grind.

Espresso ground coffee is often described as a fine powder, but it should actually look slightly coarser, similar to the texture of cornmeal, and you should be able to see individual particles at arm's length.

Measure espresso grind coffee in the right proportion.

Use 3 tablespoons of ground espresso coffee for each 2 ounce cup of espresso, varying the proportions slightly to suit your own personal taste

Pack the espresso filter correctly.

Using the tamping tool that comes with your espresso machine, tamp down the ground coffee into the filter with firm but gentle pressure.

Follow manufacturer's instructions!

With so many different kinds of espresso machines available, actual brewing instructions will vary. Your goal should be to cause the properly heated water to pass through the packed espresso grind coffee quickly but not too quickly, extracting a thick, hot black brew crowned by a thick layer of the golden froth known by the Italian term crema.

Steam the milk correctly.

If your espresso maker has a steam nozzle and you want to make an espresso drink such as cappuccino or caffè latte, put the milk into a metal pitcher deep enough to let you submerge the nozzle in the milk. When the water in the espresso maker is hot enough for brewing and steaming (indicated by a ready light on some espresso machines), and while the espresso is still brewing, submerge the nozzle in the milk and turn on the steamer, again following manufacturer's instructions for your particular machine. After a minute or more, when the milk is hot and steaming, move the pitcher so that the tip of the steam nozzle plays just below the milk's surface to build up a generous layer of foam on top of the milk.

Pour the milk correctly.

For a milky espresso coffee drink, simply pour the hot milk from the pitcher into a larger heated cup into which you've poured the espresso. Shake your hand a little while pouring to ease some foam into the cup as well. For more foam, or for foam alone to make an espresso macchiato, use a tablespoon to spoon some from the pitcher into the coffee cup. Experienced espresso coffee makers, sometimes referred to by the Italian term barista, can trace the tip of the spoon down through the white foam into the espresso coffee to create artfully elaborate designs. Give it a try yourself!