Espresso

Espresso uses the same beans but they are a darker, or full, roast. The coffee is ground to a fine powder to allow water to pass through at a slow and consistent rate, while an espresso machine uses intense heat to quickly release astringent properties.

It takes skill to properly operate an espresso machine. Dosage must be correct and the coffee must be tamped down properly to allow for water to flow through at the proper rate. The stream of water should be the width of a pencil lead.

A quality espresso maker, whether its a small countertop model or a large expensive machine, uses high pressure to force hot water through coffee. This is accomplished with an electric pump or a piston.

The final goal is to obtain one to one and one half ounces of liquid in about 20 seconds for a single shot. The pump should be turned off after this goal is achieved. The heat can then be used to steam milk.

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