17 November 2007 by Scott Stadler
Home Espresso: The Complete Buyer’s Guide (part 1)
Fickle Palate presents the Home Espresso Complete Buyer’s Guide.
Chapter 1 - Intro, Vocabulary, and Awesome Reasons
Chapter 2 - Essential Components of Café-Quality Home Espresso
Chapter 3 - Getting More Familiar with Espresso Machines
Chapter 4 - Recommended Grinders
Chapter 5 - Recommended Espresso Machines
Chapter 6 - Accessories & Troubleshooting
So you’re thinking about taking the big plunge into the world of espresso for yourself or perhaps as a gift. Congratulations in advance!
Creating espresso at home is not only an increasingly affordable possibility, but the coffee drinks easily rival favorite store bought concoctions in both quality and taste.
Maybe you’re brand new to espresso. If so, don’t worry – you’re safe here! Let’s cover the basics first.
Brewed coffee and espresso are not really the same thing. The term “espresso” actually refers to the process of using a combination of serious pressure and perfectly heated water to fully extract all of the best qualities from ground and roasted coffee beans.
Yes, espresso is stronger than brewed coffee, but it is typically served in much smaller one ounce solo shots or as doubles. The espresso extraction process brings out the best in a coffee bean, resulting in a naturally slightly sweet flavor with a smooth layer of crema on top.
As opposed to brewed coffee, espresso is individually prepared and served piping hot and fresh, ideally within less than a minute after extraction. Of course, espresso coffee is also the base for our perpetually favorite cappuccino, latte, and mocha drinks – so espresso is versatile too!
The Vocabulary of Espresso
Barista – The person calling the shots. Metaphorically, anyway. Barista is the term used to describe a person making the espresso.
Shot – One freshly prepared serving of espresso. A solo shot is typically one ounce while a double is two.
Pull – The process of extracting a shot of espresso from the espresso machine. The term comes from the original lever machines, in which the barista literally had to pull the lever to create the java.
Crema – The delicious and ever desirable brownish-red foamy layer on top of a shot of espresso that is the essence of the drink. Espresso is not espresso without crema.
Seven Awesome Reasons to Have a Home Espresso Machine
One. With a home espresso maker, delicious creamy espresso and other espresso-based drinks are just a few steps away and ready just minutes after the urge strikes. No need to go out and brave the elements only to spend money for a subpar shot or two.
Two. By fixing your espresso at home rather than going to the café every day and paying several bucks per shot, the home barista will save tons of money even after investing in quality equipment.
Three. Home-pulled espresso is usually done right every time, resulting in much better tasting java. Many cafés don’t properly train their baristas and don’t use the best ingredients available. Simply put, the enthusiastic among us can out-barista even the best baristas with a little practice!
Four. It’s fun! Creating espresso drinks at home allows for more control, but also gives you the ability to tweak, adjust, and experiment with creating new recipes – something that can’t be done at just any old coffee shop.
Five. Making espresso at home is perfect for those who love to entertain. Coffee-loving friends will want to visit all the time, knowing that they can coax an awesome shot from you when they stop by.
Six. The at-home barista with the right equipment will definitely be the star of the neighborhood. Sharing with neighbors is a fantastic way to spur interesting conversation as well as long-lasting friendships.
Seven. Why not? Professional quality equipment is finally available to the average consumer, so having gourmet espresso gear at home is an opportunity only recently possible. Plus, the high end gadgetry looks really cool in the kitchen!