Getting the Best from Your Coffee (Espresso)

Getting the Best from Your Coffee (Espresso)

The espresso is ‘the ultimate in coffee,’ some say. ‘Because it’s special preparation amplifies and exhibits the characteristics of the beans.’

Are you a coffee drinker? Would you like to master the art of brewing espresso? What does it take to produce a perfect cup? Just hold on for a while your questions are about to be answered.

GETTING THE BEST OF BLEND

Each bean variety has its own character and contributes to the final flavour of the blend. To get the blend of your choice, takes time. Some experts in the industry put their finest blend together for to six months or more. This is the why coffee rosters guard their recipes jealously. Getting the best of blend, is mastering the roasting process, the rate at which heat is applied and the degree of roasting.

The BREWING

The extraction of espresso is the most efficient and difficult of all coffee brewing methods. Making perfect espresso requires a skilful balance of three key processes namely;

1. Grinding and compacting the beans into the filter basket on the coffee machine.

2. Pouring the espresso shot.

3. Getting the grinding correctly is crucial.

The reason why the grinding is very important is because, if the grind is too coarse, the espresso will be thin and watery. If it’s too fine, the coffee will taste bitter and burned. After grinding the beans a packing tool called a tamper to compress them firmly into a filter basket. Next, lock the filter basket into place and turns on the pump. Getting the perfect pour is sometimes a case of trial by error.

Purists usually enjoy espresso in its classic form. Commonly called ‘short black’. In other words, they add nothing to the liquid expect perhaps a little sugar. Others, however, add milk to create cappuccino, latte, or a host of other espresso style. Today, milk-based espresso drinks account for more than 90 percent of all espresso beverage sales.

BUYING AND STORING OF COFFEE

Roasted coffees begin to lose flavour after a week, ground coffee an hour after grinding, and brewed coffee in minutes, according to coffee guide. Hence, if one get its own beans, it is best to buy them in small amounts and store them in a cool, dark place. But, do not refrigerate them, for they may absorb moisture and lose their flavour. And always brew your coffee just after you grind it.