Looking for a simple, straight forward and easy espresso making recipe? Here’s a quick and easy way to make a great cup of espresso. 

First of all it’s important to start with good, fresh ingredients and it all starts with the water. Water, I hear you say? Yes, even water can get stale, due to mildew, poor cleaning practices and inadequate filtering. It must be fresh and very hot. The ideal temperature is nearly boiling - around 95C - 203F .

Go for Arabica coffee - rather than Robusta coffee - delivered fresh for roasting. In any way either self-roasted or bought within a few days after, the coffee should have that ‘fresh food’ smell.

Finely ground in a burr grinder the roast should be dark. The fineness of the granules is important too. This is determined by the distance between the plates. Sand grain-sized is good, small-gravel too large and powder too fine. Don’t expose the coffee longer than necessary to the air as coffee will absorb odors from the air and oxidize. Not good for making a good espresso cup!

Finally you need a clean machine of good quality. Avoid the cheap units relying on steam to create pressure. Look instead for a machine that is able to produce pump pressure of nine bar or better and generate heat by a thermoblock or boiler. A ‘thermoblock’ heats water as it passes through the machine on the way to the pump.

So that’s what you need. Let’s look now how to make a great espresso.

Start with prewarming your clean! machine by running good water through it. Turn the machine on, let the water heat and run a cup through with no coffee to warm the surfaces and flush the system.

Then add your ground roast and pack down slightly, as you would pipe tobacco. Just as with pipes, you should feel some springiness, but the coffee shouldn’t scatter.

After placing a warmed espresso cup at the outlet, insert the hopper in the machine firmly. In about five seconds you should have a steady, thin stream. About 20 seconds for a double shot.

Should you prefer a cappuccino, warm half a cup of organic milk in the microwave about 90 seconds, froth and add to the espresso. Garnish to taste with cinnamon, nutmeg or chocolate. If you like it sweet, add a little organic sugar.

Start with good ingredients, don’t burn the roast and keep your equipment clean. Simple, straight forward, and easy. The result? A great cup! Enjoy!