Learn how to use an espresso machine in five easy steps. Once you’ve mastered it, you’re ready to make your first perfect shot of espresso.
If you want to buy or already own an espresso machine, you must consider how to make tasty espresso using an espresso machine. Unfortunately, an espresso machine is not like an automatic drip coffee machine, where you simply place coffee tablets and everything is ready in minutes. To make a single shot of espresso, an espresso machine requires trial and error as well as some skill. Yes, we’re not yet talking about making lattes, cappuccinos, or magic.
When asked what type of espresso machine produces the best espresso shots, this question must be addressed from numerous perspectives. But keep in mind that you don’t have to buy an espresso machine that costs as much as a used car. With a standard home brewers espresso machine, you can still produce shots of espresso with nuanced flavor, the right amount of brightness and acidity, and very little bitterness.
A standard espresso machine is one that costs between $100 and $1000, is suitable for home brewing, is automatic, and is also known as an automatic espresso machine. There are manual and semi-automatic espresso machines in addition to automatic espresso machines. Let’s take them one at a time.
What is a manual espresso machine?
A manual espresso machine is operated by pushing and pulling a lever. As you raise the lever, water is drawn into the brewing chamber, saturating the coffee grounds (a step known as pre-infusion). Pulling the lever back down creates pressure, forcing the water through the coffee grounds and into your cup below. The term “pulling a shot” comes from this type of manual espresso machine.
What is a semi-automatic espresso machine?
A semi-automatic espresso machine requires you to grind and tamp the coffee beans, lock in the portafilter, and select your settings (number and size of shots). Then, with the press of a few buttons, an electrical pump automatically moves water through the brewing chamber at the correct pressure, temperature, and time—no manual pulling or timing required.
Some semi-automatic espresso machines allow you to manually control the pre-infusion time and amount of water used, but these are typically found on commercial models in professional coffee shops.
What is an automatic espresso machine?
Automatic espresso machines make espresso at the touch of a button, but they lack some customization options. They frequently include built-in coffee grinders and brewing mechanisms that grind coffee, fill and tamp the basket, and then brew a predetermined amount of espresso. These hands-free automatic espresso machines can produce highly consistent results, but they leave little room for experimentation.
We will show you how to use automatic espresso machines because this post is intended for beginner coffee brewers and you are unlikely to open a coffee shop in the near future.
How to use an automatic machine
STEP 1 : Turn on and preheat your espresso machine.
STEP 2 : Measure and grind your beans.
STEP 3 : Tamp your coffee ground on the portafilter so that the coffee bed is flat and even.
STEP 4 : Put the portafilter into the machine, and pull your first shot.
STEP 5 : Dial in or taste your espresso
