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Questions tagged [espresso]

Espresso is coffee brewed by forcing a small amount of nearly boiling water under pressure through finely ground coffee beans. As a result of the pressurized brewing process, the flavors and chemicals in a typical cup of espresso are very concentrated compared to other methods of brewing.

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Is there a reason to have coffee grounds at the bottom of an espresso?

While having coffee at a fancy café earlier, we noticed that the espresso aswell as the cappuccino had large amounts of coffee grounds still sitting at the floor of the cup. While being annoyed by this (given that the coffee was rather expensive), I…
Martin Dreher
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How do espresso machines hold pressure at all?

Kind of a science question: I've been hacking the electronics of a cheap espresso machine a bit to see if I can get better results, and was wondering - espresso is recommended to be brewed at around 130 psi of pressure. That's a lot. My machine is a…
QuadrupleA
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What is the benefit to using a paper filter in a moka pot?

I saw a picture of this method being used in a magazine from Hong Kong. A cafe gave a short description of brewing with a moka pot. They placed a small, circular, paper filter on top of the ground coffee before screwing on the top of the pot. Why…
ceelun
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What is the ideal grind for making espresso?

I know that there is no "ideal" grind for making espresso (or rather, like most things, it depends on the machine and the tastes of the drinker), but I am looking for guidelines as to how different grinding levels effects the end product, so I know…
B R
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What is a pressurized filter, and should I use it for my espresso?

I've just started out really using my Gaggia Classic espresso machine, and so far I've been pretty satisfied with my results – but I'm no expert. Yesterday, I lost the black plastic thing that goes between the portafilter and the basket (is that the…
slhck
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Does milk matter to achieve the perfect latte?

Does milk matter to achieve the perfect latte? Milk is an important ingredient of every espresso latte. Even though I believe coffee bean is the most important ingredient, most people put emphasis in milk. Could someone point out the reasoning…
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Cayenne Latte drink - how to make at home?

I used to go to a coffee shop ( in a different state) where they made a cayenne pepper epsresso drink. It was a great drink strong cofee flavor with a kick of cayenne. The barrista mentioned that this drink only works in small portions ( i.e. size…
ajpyles
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How do I use my lever press correctly?

I have a lever press espresso machine and wondered how I can produce the optimal shot of espresso. I am using the single serving sieve and try to fill it up to a point so that after compressing the grinds, it tightly fits in the machine. Then I pull…
Baarn
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Make espresso in office kitchen- just have a kettle and microwave?

I'd like to make espressos for lattes in my offices. However we don't have a stove or coffee maker -- just a kettle and a microwave, and that's about it. Is it possible to make a decent espresso with just these appliances?
Evanss
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Flavour espresso with vanilla without adding sugar or other sweetener?

I've always thought that vanilla and espresso would be a good combination but the problem is: I don't take sugar! I understand one can buy coffee flavoured beans but how would I get the vanilla flavour using my home set up (espresso machine, burr…
petemoloy
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Why is the milk used in latte steamed and not boiled?

Does it make a big difference in the flavor of my latte if I boil the milk, versus steaming it?
letthefireflieslive
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Why is there so much crema on my espresso?

I buy fresh beans of lighter roasts, grind a few minutes before extraction, pull a double shot normale, and end up with a lot of crema, I mean a lot! Right when I'm done, the top 90% of the shot is crema moving around like the head on a fresh…
rwyland
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What features should I look for when buying an espresso maker?

I got a $30 espresso machine a year and half ago to see if we would actually use it much. It gets used several times a week (and we haven't bought anything from Starbucks in months), and the gasket in it's cap is leaking, so we're looking to buy a…
BostonJohn
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How does the shape of an espresso cup affect the flavor?

Similar to the question: Why do drinks drunk from a glass instead of a bottle taste differently? Where the top answer notes the logic behind each glass for a particular drink: Wine glasses, for example, are optimal for giving the nose an…
Hooked
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If espresso is by definition pressure-brewed coffee, is French press coffee a form of espresso?

I wonder what the pressure difference is?
Spresso
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