As lovers of coffee ourselves we know the importance of striving towards barista quality espresso at home.
When making espresso coffee at home, whether it be for a long mac (topped up) or iced coffee, its important to have a quick and repeatable process. Keep reading to make sure you're nailing the basics of a good routine!
What's a long mac topped up? Learn more in our Long Mac Topped Up blog.
No matter how perfect the rest of your routine is, you won't make a good coffee from old or low quality beans. This is why, particularly those which are roasted locally, are a surefire way to ensure a good brew. Check out our range of local roasters.
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Keep your dose consistent. Even if your grinder has a pre-set dosage it is a good idea to keep a set of scales on hand to make sure you always have the same measurement of grinds. Use 17 to 21 grams as a guide!
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Tamp consistently. Before tamping, it is a good idea to level out the grinds with your finger to ensure there are no air pockets in your grinds. Then make sure you are applying even pressure with your tamp. This will allow for even extraction.
If your extraction time is under 26 seconds, you most likely need to grind your beans finer. If your extraction time is over 32 seconds, grind your beans courser. The finer you grind your beans, the longer the extraction time due to an increased surface area!
A handy tip to identify if your coffee is under-extracted or over-extracted is that if under-extracted, the coffee will taste sour and weak. Whereas over-extracted will taste harsh, bitter and perhaps burnt.
(Learn more about the common coffee tastes)
Keep everything clean!
One factor that will without a doubt negatively impact the taste of your coffee is the cleanliness of your equipment. Make sure you are regularly cleaning your machine and grinder and use filtered water to prevent build up.
The group head and shower screen will attract a build up of coffee so flushing water through before and after pouring a shot is important. Most machines will alert you when they are in need of a clean, but a good guide for someone drinking two cups a day is every two months.
The last thing we want is our fresh coffee picking up the undesirable particles from old coffee on its way to your mug!
Keep these tips in mind when making your next coffee, and try to incorporate them into your coffee routine for a brilliant and consistent brew!
Running low on coffee?
You can enjoy some amazing local coffee via our Coffee Tasting Boxes, Roaster of the Month Subscription or shop our entire collection.
Up next ---> Filter coffee tips