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.
Grind Size
Fine
Coffee Amount
18-21 grams
Water Amt & Temp
25-30 grams
200°
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.
Step Two
Purge your grouphead thoroughly with hot water.
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).
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.
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.
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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.