We know getting perfect espresso at home can sometimes be frustrating. It takes a lot of practice (and patience) to pull those consistently creamy, flavorful shots. Even baristas work hard to master it, but a few basics can help you get better over time. Over the last decade, our own Ben Turiano has pulled thousands of shots and trained numerous teams of professional baristas—here are his top tips for pulling perfect shots at home.
Espresso Tips
Know Your Numbers
For shots using a standard espresso grinder, start with a 1:2.5 ratio (Your yield should be 2.5x your dry dose) and a 40 – 45 second shot time.
For Large Flat Burr style grinders (such as an EK43) start with a 1:3 ratio, and a 25 second shot time. Be sure to take notes on your settings for different coffees!
Know Your Roast Date
During roasting, coffee will de-gas excess CO2, created from the sugars found in the beans. This CO2 stays in the bag, helping to keep your coffee fresh. However, the fast contact time of espresso means too much CO2 can inhibit your ability to get a full extraction. Therefore, we find that coffee 4 – 8 days off roast date is our favorite for espresso. It's still very fresh and dynamic, but with enough rest to allow for a full extraction. While we love brewing single origin espressos, we also offer an espresso blend! Check out Tiger Stripe Espresso, a full-bodied coffee with notes of chocolate and almond.
Keep It Even
Aim to distribute your dry dose as evenly as possible throughout the portafilter basket to yield the sweetest results. Uneven movement of water through the coffee puck will result in bitter, astringent flavors. Tools and techniques that help break up coffee clumps can help achieve this better, such as Lynn Weber, Weiss Distribution Technique, or one of the variety of Distribution tools on the market.
Let It Cool
Coffee tastes best around 120º – 140º, so don't forget to let your espresso cool before drinking. Stirring your shot will also give it a more balanced flavor.
Be Precise
Consistency is key to good espresso. Using a scale, timer, and taking notes will all help you adjust in order to achieve outstanding results.
For a more in-depth espresso tutorial, check out our "Brewin' with Ben: Perfecting Espresso" video!