The Basics of Espresso Hot Drinks - Part 1

Espresso

Over this three part series on coffee basics we will cover:

What is espresso, How we make it, how does one get perfect steamed milk, and what are some common drinks that contain espresso?

Before you pull a shot of espresso, you must pick out your espresso beans. When picking your beans, it is usually best to pick a medium to dark roast espresso bean with lots of caffeine to help you kick start your day. It is up to you to pick your beans as we all have different taste desires. There are so many amazing roasters out there and it’s best to try several types of coffee beans to further your knowledge on flavors and to find your own personal liking. I would pick a medium to dark roast from an Italian, Central or South American, Ethiopian, or Columbian roaster. I like notes in my beans of chocolate, smokey, sweet, hints of blueberry or blackberry, and a fair amount of oilto create a creamy and smooth body once the espresso shot is pulled.

A shot of espresso must be pulled on an espresso machine so you will need to invest in one yourself. There is also a moka pot which is more affordable than an espresso machine yet still pulls a great shot of espresso. This will save you so much money if you make your coffee at home rather than grabbing one every morning at Starbucks or your go to local coffee shop.

Next you will want to grind your beans however you prefer. I like to grind my beans more on the fine side but adjust as needed in the amount of time you will need to pull your shot for the correct final amount. Once you have adjusted your grind and picked out your beans, now you are ready to pull your shot.

There are a couple of things to an espresso machine that you must first understand before you pull your shot. To get a beautiful shot of espresso you must pull it in a very precise way to get the perfect flavor and color. First, you have your portafilter where you put your ground beans into, then even that out and tamp manually or automatically. Then you will place that portafilter securely into the group head and if you have a manual espresso machine pre-infuse your shot by putting it into the second gear if it is a manual espresso machine. In 30 seconds, you should have a beautiful creamy layered shot of espresso. Do not forget to dump out your used grounds and clean out your group head with a cloth and hot water before proceeding to steam your milk and create your drink.

In my next blog post, we will talk about how to use milk to make your favorite coffee drink.