How to Brew Espresso
Espresso is coffee at its most concentrated, a small shot packed with bold flavor, natural sweetness, and a texture you just do not get any other way. When it is dialed in right, it has a lotta chutzpah to it, rich, balanced, and just enough kick to make you say “nu, that’s coffee.” It delivers big flavor in a small cup.
That said, espresso is not one-size-fits-all. Every machine behaves a little differently, every grinder has its quirks, and every coffee reacts in its own way. This guide offers general advice on how to start with espresso. Dialing in espresso is not about getting it perfect on the first shot, it is about making small adjustments, tasting as you go, and learning how each change affects the cup. Once you get that rhythm down, everything starts to click, and you learn what is right for each bean!
What You’ll Need
Coffee (dose) - 15g - 20g, depending on the size of your portafilter basket.
Chutzpah's Choice - Bubbie's Blend
Grind Size - Fine
Ratio - 1:2
Use filtered water for best results!
Brew Time: ~25-35 seconds
Step by Step Brew Guide
- Prep the machine. Make sure your portafilter is clean, and flush grouphead by pressing the brew button.
- Load in the coffee. Put the grounds in your portafilter, level distribute them evenly.
- Tamp the puck! Tamp the coffee with even and consistent pressure until you experience resistance, ~15 pounds of force.
- Brew and time! Put your portafilter in the grouphead, start a timer, then start the brew. You are aiming for a 25-35 second pull to get a 2:1 ratio. If you used 18g coffee grounds, you are looking to get 36g espresso.
- Taste and Tinker! Espresso is never perfect on try one! See our tips below for dialing in espresso shots!
Tips and Adjustments
Dialing in Your Espresso Shot:
If your baseline shot is not tasting right, do not start changing everything at once. Keep your dose and ratio the same and adjust one variable at a time so you can actually see what is making a difference.
If the shot is sour, thin, or finishes too quickly, grind finer to slow things down and extract more. If it is bitter, harsh, or dragging out too long, grind a bit coarser to speed it up and pull less from the coffee.
Think of it as small nudges, not big swings. Taste, adjust, repeat. That is how you move from a decent shot to one that actually hits.
Adjusting for Light Roasts:
Light roasts are denser and harder to extract, do the following to ensure a better brew:
Use hotter water if your machine allows it
Grind a touch finer
Extend your brew time
Adjusting for Dark Roasts:
Dark roasts extract faster and can get bitter, do the following to ensure a better brew:
Use cooler water if your machine allows it
Grind a touch coarser
Shorten your brew time
Pro Tips
Use fresh coffee! A fresh roast means better extraction and stronger flavor
Save your data
If you dialed in a particular bean, remember those settings! Every bean is different, and uses slightly different settings to dial in.
Enjoy your perfect cup!
L'chaim!