The espresso machine holds a special place in the heart of every coffee lover in the world. Not only are they capable of making some uniquely delicious drinks, but also, they’re a triumph of engineering. They can be used to make a number of delicious options in concert with one another very easily – from a ristretto to a flat white, your espresso machine can be a huge boon in your kitchen.
In this article, we’re going to run through some of the most basic pieces of knowledge you need to start getting the best coffee possible out of your espresso machine. Before long, you’ll be able to generate some of the tastiest coffee you’ve ever had!
How to use an espresso machine
By and large, there are two functions to an espresso machine. The first one is to create espresso, using a portafilter, group head, and pump. The second one is to steam milk, using (typically the same) pump, as well as a steaming wand. For the purposes of this article, we’re only going to talk about making espresso – the science of milk steaming is something else entirely!
To get started, switch on your espresso machine to allow it to preheat, and check that you’ve got everything you need all in one place. You should have the machine itself, the portafilter (the basket with a handle to which you add coffee), the basket that sits within the portafilter, some finely ground coffee, a tamper, and a mug.
To get started, place the portafilter basket into the portafilter. You may need to smack it a little to ensure it’s fully seated in the portafilter – the rim must be flush all the way around the portafilter.
Put the portafilter into the group head (the space on the espresso machine that the portafilter slots into) without having added any coffee. Run a shot of just water through the portafilter to preheat it. This will ensure that your coffee is extracted at the best possible temperature.
Remove the portafilter, and dry it with a microfibre cloth. Then, add the finely ground coffee to the portafilter. Once it’s all in the basket, use your tamper to compress it into a flat, even layer. You can press too lightly, but you cannot press too firmly. To that end, feel free to press quite hard.
Add the portafilter (now filled with coffee) to the espresso machine in the same place as before. Then, place your mug underneath, and press the button to draw a shot on your espresso machine. This may be a pre-programmed amount of water or time of pumping, or it could be manual. Aim to pump espresso for around thirty seconds – that should equate to roughly a double shot of espresso.
After the espresso has been dispensed, you can feel free to drink it! Remove the portafilter and knock out the puck of coffee, then when you’ve finished making coffee, clean the portafilter and basket in hot, soapy water.
Cleaning instructions
Cleaning an espresso machine might be easier than you think. The only parts that get truly dirty are the drip tray, the portafilter and basket, and the shower screen (the piece of metal your water comes through before it hits the coffee).
In modern machines, most of these components are dishwasher safe, so feel free to throw them in there. Make sure to check the manual to see which components are or aren’t dishwasher safe.
Your shower screen may be trickier to clean. The easiest way to clean it is to remove it – typically, there is a small screw at the center of the screen. Unscrew that, and then the shower screen should drop out, ready to be cleaned in hot soapy water.
You can clean the inside of your espresso machine through the use of descaling tablets or similar solutions. We’re not going to go into that too much here, since different brands and styles require different methods and products. For instance, Sage; or Breville, if you’re in the UK; make their own descaling tablets for cleaning their espresso machines.
Check the manual for your espresso machine for guidance on how best to clean your machine.
Storage suggestions
Since espresso machines are quite large, we’re at a loss with regard to what storage methods to suggest. Despite that, though, we might suggest a coffee bar.
If you’ve got a small nook or cupboard in your home that you’d like to do something sweet with, you might consider placing your espresso machine there, along with other espresso accouterments, such as bottles of syrup or cocoa powder shakers.
The thing that really makes this an interesting way to store your espresso machine is that you could easily ‘cordon off’ that region of your kitchen. For example, you could physically make that space into a small cupboard, or use a thin curtain to break the space apart from the room.
Alternatively, simply painting the nook a different color will likely be enough to ensure the space feels distinct from the rest of the room – that piece of your coffee mind is distinct and important in its own way.
Espresso machine accessories
Breville Knock Box
A knock box will be a great way for you to speed up the process of making coffee. It will allow you to easily knock out the dried puck of coffee into another utensil to clean up later. This makes the process of brewing much easier: you don’t have to think about washing dishes until much later in the day.
Weiss Distribution Tool
This tool has become popular recently for eliminating clumps of coffee in espresso pucks. You may or may not feel the need for it, but it’s a simple, affordable way to make a provable difference to your espresso!
Conclusion
We hope that this article has been able to give you a few great ideas for how to ensure that your espresso machine game is as good as possible. The espresso machine can make wonderful coffee, and we wish you the best of luck in using it!