You don’t have a fancy espresso machine? No worries. Here are the three best ways to make espresso without a machine!
With many people trying to save money or working from home more frequently, a good home espresso machine is becoming an increasingly appealing alternative for your daily caffeine fix. However, good espresso machines range in price from $37 to $4000 for automatic models. If you are a coffee connoisseur, drink coffee for more than just energy, and don’t mind paying a premium, then go ahead and purchase one of the best espresso machines.
However, if you want to save money and are picky about flavor, these espresso methods without an espresso machine will produce the best, barista-like results.
Method 1: A portable espresso maker
What is the best way to make espresso without using a machine? A portable espresso machine. With this small device, you can manually push water through the coffee into the cup. It’s small, portable, and convenient for traveling or taking to the office.
The flavor isn’t quite as good as espresso from a machine, and the crema isn’t as thick and plentiful. However, the flavor is surprisingly good, and at $65, it’s a steal! It’s also small and portable, making it ideal for storing in cabinets or transporting.
We recommend three portable espresso makers: Flair Espresso, Rok Presso, and Nespresso.
Method 2: Moka Pot
The Moka Pot is an excellent method for producing dark, richly flavored coffee. It’s not exactly espresso, but it tastes so close that you can substitute it for espresso drinks. It’s closer to an Americano than an espresso.
The Moka Pot is also known by the brand name Bialetti. It’s a stovetop method of making strong coffee that involves forcing steam through coffee grounds. It produces a deliciously rich cup of coffee.
The flavor that a Moka Pot can produce is fantastic. Even Though, it lacks crema and some of the richness in flavor, it makes a 5 oz cup of espresso. Moka pot is an excellent choice for espresso drinks! It costs only $35 for one pot.
Method 3: Aeropress
Although an Aeropress can be used to make espresso, it is not our preferred method for flavor. Only use this if it is the only option available! An Aeropress is a single-cup coffee maker made of plastic. It’s portable, inexpensive, and simple to clean, making it a convenient way to make coffee.
At $30, the Aeropress is a steal. However, this method makes significant flavor sacrifices. Aeropress espresso is more bitter and flat than other methods, and it lacks a distinctive crema. Only use this method as a last resort.
How to improve espresso flavor without a machine
We’ve already warned you that espresso without an espresso machine won’t taste as good as espresso made with one. But don’t be sad. You can still improve your espresso without a machine.
- Grind coffee beans to the finest grind size possible. If the flavor is bitter, increase the grind size slightly.
- Use water that is 90 to 95 degrees Celsius.
- Use dark roast beans. Dark roast beans will extract more crema than light roast beans.
