Espresso Taste Guide - Essential ChecklistUpdated a year ago

Struggling to get the Espresso Flavour Right?

If you're saying "My coffee is too weak" Use less water, use more coffee, or use a finer grind - but try to take one step at a time so you know which one correctly impacts flavour. Although, sometimes it's a combination of all three. 

• "My coffee is too strong" - use more water, less coffee, or a coarser grind setting. 
• "My coffee is too bitter" - you've over-extracted the coffee, try using a coarser grind setting
• "My coffee is too sour" - you've under-extracted the coffee, use a finer grind setting

Ultimate Espresso Recipe Settings ✅

For Espresso, you should target the following recipe settings:

Espresso Dose = 16-18 grams (the amount of ground coffee (finely ground) added to your machine basket 

Espresso Yield = 35-37 grams for a double shot. This is the final amount of liquid espresso in the cup once the water has passed through the machine handle into your cup. 

Other considerations:

• Only use the double-spouted portafilter handle for the best results.
• Ensure the machine has been pre-heated and you run some hot water through the portafilter handle to pre-heat it. 
• Ensure you're using fresh coffee
• Ensure you're using digital scales to accurately measure the espresso recipe settings
• Ensure the pump pressure on your machine is set correctly as this can impact flavour. You can contact your machine supplier to confirm everything is working correctly. 
• Ensure you've recently cleaned your coffee machine (old coffee oils can negatively impact espresso flavour) 
• Ensure you've de-scaled your coffee machine to protect it from limescale damage (blockages internally can impact the water flow which in turn impacts flavour) 
• Ensure you're using filtered water for the best results.