How to make espresso at home

How to make an espresso at home

Freshly pressed and quickly brewed in under 30 seconds. Yes, you can do it at home! Espresso demands pressure to extract the coffee by forcing hot water through the tamped grounds. There are lots of ways you can do this. There are even manual espresso machines with a lever to press, although variables like pressure and water temperature aren’t controlled so it will take practice to get the results you’re after. 

If you choose a Fully or Semi automatic espresso machine for home, then either some or all of the process is taken care of, giving you both consistency and ease. With a Fully automatic, you just tap the screen to select your chosen drink and sit back to be served a robust, authentic cup! If you’d like to be hands on and revel in the whole barista vibe, the Semi automatic may be for you. Here’s how to make espresso with it:

Fill the tank with fresh water and the hopper with beans

• Select your filter basket and press it into the portafilter

• Choose your grind size and amount and dispense the grounds

• Rest the portafilter on a level surface and use the tamper to press firmly

• Lock the portafilter into the group head of the machine

• Pick your brew mode, shot amount and temperature 

• Press go! Watch that magical espresso run through.   

What is an espresso?

Espresso isn’t a kind of bean. It’s a brewing method, from the Italian word for ‘pressed out’. A small amount of nearly boiling water, under pressure, is forced through finely ground coffee beans, delivering to you the purest essence of the bean. Loved for its potency, it is thicker and more intense than other types of coffee. Espresso is either served in single or double shots, or used for making a host of delicious drinks – such as latte, cappuccino or macchiato – and desserts, from a classic Tiramisu, to ice cream.

Is espresso high in caffeine?

Many people think a cup of espresso contains more caffeine than other types of brewed coffee. However, because you drink only a small volume of coffee, espressos tend to have lower levels of caffeine per serving. An average shot of espresso (30ml) contains around 63mg of caffeine, while the average serving of drip- brewed coffee (178ml) contains around 110mg.

As we drink an espresso shot much faster than drip coffee, we get a sensation of a strong ‘hit’ of caffeine. This can make us feel like we’ve had more caffeine than we actually have.

Use a machine for a truly authentic taste

Espresso coffee was always made in a machine, first designed in 1884 by Angelo Moriondo. Decades later, Luigi Bezzera enhanced his design, adding a portafilter and multiple brew heads. Today, espresso machines are even smarter, with fast-heating Thermocoil technology in KitchenAid espresso machines. Another innovation is the special flat-based portafilter on the Semi automatic espresso machine, which has recessed spouts for easier, more stable tamping. The new espresso machine remains true to the original method to make extraordinary coffee part of your daily routine.

How to get creamy crema

Crema is the famous golden or rust-coloured froth which is naturally produced on the top of an espresso shot. How is it created? It’s all a matter of pressure. Pump espresso machines produce enough pressure to achieve that elusive, rich crema. The KitchenAid espresso machines have a 15-bar Italian pump for the optimal pressure to produce a rich shot. This means you can make authentic-tasting espressos of the type that you would expect to be served in your favourite coffee house. More about what is crema in coffee

Which coffee roast for espresso?

While espresso aficionados disagree on many things, they agree on the roast of the bean and the precision of the grind. A good rule of thumb is that palate-tingling darker roasts go best with quick coffee brew methods, like espresso machines.

This is because lighter roasts produce less porous beans and so the compounds are extracted more slowly. Drip or pour-over methods are ideal for enjoying lighter roasts. But if used in espresso, light roasts can end up tasting bland.

Explore different types of coffee beans

Grind your own beans for a full flavour

Grinding beans, rather than buying pre-ground, guarantees wonderful flavours and aroma. That’s why espresso machines with an integrated burr grinder deliver unbeatable freshness and taste. If coffee isn’t used straight away, it starts to oxidise. So no matter how carefully you store it, there will be a loss of natural oil and flavour. 

illy x KitchenAid are partners in espresso

KitchenAid has teamed up with illy, the beloved Italian coffee company, to create an authentic espresso experience at home. Everything you need is covered: excellent espresso machines and coffee with an Italian DNA. A selection of illy’s Arabica beans are currently available in an Exploration Kit that comes with KitchenAid espresso machines for a limited time. This includes the new Arabica Selection Brasile Cerrado Mineiro, the first coffee sourced entirely including the first ever coffee sourced entirely from regenagri-certified regenerative agriculture. Bring happiness to every sip.

How to drink an espresso

Surely you just drink it, right? To drink your shot like a true Italian, take the time to:

• cleanse your palate with a glass of water, preferably sparkling

• smell the espresso to enjoy the intense aroma

• stir in your crema and optional sugar (usually favoured in Italy)

• sip or gulp – both give a different taste sensation but whichever you prefer, drink it before it cools

• let the coffee fill your mouth… and savour it.

Get creative with milky espresso drinks

You’ve learnt how to make espresso at home. Now it’s time to get adventurous with a whole new world of coffee creations – cappuccinos, macchiatos, frappes and more. A semi automatic espresso machine has a steam wand to give your chosen milk a rich, velvety warmth. Dip it right in to create a rolling motion and produce steamed (heated) milk, or place it at the surface to whoosh up some milk foam. It’s best to start with nice, cold milk and a cold jug as that produces tiny bubbles for better foam.

As well as cow’s milk, you can opt for a non-dairy alternative like soy, almond, oat or coconut. Vegan coffees are delicious! If you want a fully automatic espresso machine which makes the drink at the press of a button, you could go for the top KF8 model, which has a unique plant-based mode to incorporate non-dairy to perfection.