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    Chasing the ghost of perfection

    Here’s the unfortunate truth: Skimping on a home espresso machine is like skydiving with a threadbare parachute—a precarious endeavor, barely tinged with optimism. We speak with the stains of many subpar espresso shots on our hands: It’s a finicky business. But once you have your tools in order, the path becomes clearer, and the challenge becomes about patience and practice. You could spend a lifetime trying to achieve the perfect shot. (And well, we have). When you glimpse it, you’ll have brushed with balance, viscosity, sweetness, and depth in sublime harmony.

    Brew Time

    25 - 30 seconds

    WHAT YOU'LL NEED

    Coffee
    Espresso machine
    Demitasse
    Double basket, bottomless portafilter
    Grinder
    Scale
    Tamper
    Timer



    Hand grinder icon

    Grind Size

    Fine

    Coffee bean icon

    Coffee Amount

    18-21 grams

    Water icon

    Water Amt & Temp

    25-30 grams
    200°

    Clock icon

    BREW TIME

    25 - 30 seconds

    Step One

    Remove your portafilter from the espresso machine’s grouphead.

    Place it on a scale and tare the weight.

    A portafilter on a scale

    Step Two

    Purge your grouphead thoroughly with hot water.


    An espresso grouphead.

    Step Three

    For a double shot, grind between 18–21 grams of coffee into your basket.

    The proper grind is crucial to a balanced, delicious shot of espresso. It might be necessary to adjust its fineness a bit. In general, the grind ought to be quite fine.

    Portafilter full of ground coffee.

    Step Four

    Distribute the coffee by drawing a finger across it in a series of alternating swipes.

    It is most effective to alternate sides in a series of 90 degree increments (top to bottom, then left to right, and so on).

    A person's hand distributing coffee in a portafilter.

    Step Five

    Place the portafilter on a clean, flat surface and position the tamper level on top of the grounds.

    Without driving your palm into the tamper’s base, apply pressure downward. You don’t need to tamp incredibly hard—just enough to seal the coffee in evenly. Twenty to 30 lbs of pressure should do it. Give the tamper a gentle spin. This will smooth, or “polish,” the grounds for an even extraction.

    A portafilter with tamper inserted.

    Step Six

    Position the portafilter in the grouphead and start your shot.

    Near the 30 second mark, the extraction will end, causing the shot to thicken and start “blonding,” or turning yellow. Stop the shot just as this process begins.

    Step Seven

    Serve and enjoy!

    Some people like to stir a shot after it’s been pulled; some like to sip immediately in order to experience its many layers of flavor. This is up to you. We serve it with a sparkling water back.

    Espresso in a demitasse