Many mistakenly believe it is a specific bean or grind that makes an espresso when in actuality, it is also the perfect combination of pressure and brew time that produce the quintessential cup. A good espresso is intensely concentrated, dark and full-bodied but filtered, which distinguishes it from Turkish-style coffee.
In 1903, Italian Luigi Bezzera invented espresso by adding pressure
to the coffee brewing process. espresso, meaning "pressed out" or made
on demand "expressly" for a consumer, produces a better cup of coffee as
it allows the best qualities of the bean to be extracted.
Making a proper espresso can be almost as sensual as drinking
it. You will need an espresso machine, the best quality espresso roasted
beans such as Café Britt, and some important know-how.
First, fresh coffee is ground into the portafilter and manual
pressure is applied using a tamp to pack the grounds into a "cake." You
can also take the "easy way" and use an espresso pod which has the
precise measure and required compactation.
Next, you rely on a quality espresso machine to force water
through the coffee resulting in a shot of espresso. A properly brewed
cup will have a satiny mouth feel and will be topped with a rich,
uniform hazel colored cream without the dark "tiger" lines atop that are
present in a poor quality cup. The alluring
aroma will encourage immediate consumption, which is important as the
complex and volatile liquid breaks down in quality quickly.
Avoid these big No-no's when brewing espresso: