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Ethiopian coffee

Wouldn’t you like to try coffee beans from where coffee was first discovered? Then you must try Ethiopia coffee.

Ethiopia is widely considered to be the birthplace of coffee, with a history of coffee cultivation and consumption that dates back centuries. The country’s unique landscape, with mountains and lush tropical forests, naturally provides ideal growing conditions for Arabica coffee beans.

With perfect growing conditions, Ethiopian coffee is known for its uniquely fruity and floral notes, often with undertones of chocolate and spices. With its unique characteristics and rich history, Ethiopian coffee is a key part of the country’s culture and economy and the economic engine for millions of smallholder farmers.

What is Ethiopian Coffee?

Ethiopian coffee is a type of coffee bean grown in the high altitudes of Ethiopia, where coffee was first discovered. These coffee beans are known for their unique and complex flavor profile, which can include notes of fruit, floral, and spice, and are highly sought after by coffee enthusiasts for their high quality.

Ethiopian coffee is grown using traditional methods and is a significant contributor to the global coffee industry. Additionally, the coffee culture in Ethiopia is rich and deeply ingrained in the country’s history and traditions.

You might also like to read: How to choose single origin vs. blended coffee beans

History of Ethiopian Coffee

Ethiopian coffee has a rich and storied history dating back to the 9th century. According to legend, coffee was first discovered in Ethiopia by a shepherd who noticed that his goats became energetic after eating the beans of a certain tree. The drink quickly spread throughout the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and by the 16th century, it had made its way to the rest of the world, first to the Arabian Peninsula, and then to Europe.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, Ethiopia’s coffee industry grew rapidly, making it one of the largest producers and exporters of coffee in the world. However, the country experienced political and economic instability in the late 20th century, leading to a decline in its coffee industry. In recent years, however, the industry has made a resurgence, with a focus on sustainability, quality, and fair trade practices. Today, Ethiopian coffee is highly prized for its unique flavor and is an important contributor to the global coffee industry.

Best growing conditions for Ethiopian coffee

Ethiopian coffee beans thrive in the high altitudes and fertile soils of the Ethiopian highlands, typically grown at elevations between 4,500 and 7,000 feet. The high altitudes provide a cooler climate, which slows down the maturation of the coffee cherries, leading to a higher concentration of flavor in the beans. Additionally, the highlands of Ethiopia receive abundant rainfall, providing ideal growing conditions for coffee plants.

Ethiopian coffee is often grown in the shade of other trees, which helps to protect the plants from strong sunlight and provide a more consistent growing environment. The soil in the Ethiopian highlands is also rich in organic matter, providing the necessary nutrients for the coffee plants to grow and produce high-quality beans.

Overall, the combination of high altitude, consistent rainfall, rich soil, and shade provide the ideal growing conditions for Ethiopian coffee beans to flourish and develop their unique and complex flavor profile.

What is harvest season for Ethiopian coffee beans?

The harvest season for Ethiopian coffee beans is typically between October and January.

Ethiopian-coffee-regions

Coffee plants in Ethiopia have two main harvests, with the primary harvest taking place during this time and a smaller secondary harvest in June and July. During the harvest season, the coffee cherries are hand-picked by farmers and then processed to remove the beans, which are then dried and sorted before being exported or roasted for local consumption.

What are the main Ethiopian coffee regions?

Ethiopian coffee is grown in various regions throughout the country, each with its own unique growing conditions, soil composition, and climate. These differences result in coffee beans with distinct flavor profiles and characteristics.

Some of the main coffee-growing regions in Ethiopia include:

  1. Sidamo: This region is known for producing coffee with a bright and fruity flavor profile and a medium to high acidity. The coffee beans grown here are also typically larger in size compared to those grown in other regions. Sidamo is Arabica coffee from the Typica subvariety. Coffee produced here has low acidity and has a well-balanced flavor profile with notes of cane sugar.

    2. If you would like to try coffee from Sidamo, we would suggest the organic Sidamo coffee bean below:

    Sidamo-coffee

    View Product on Amazon.com

  2. Yirgacheffe: This region is known for producing some of the finest and most sought-after coffee in Ethiopia. The coffee grown here is known for its complex flavor profile, including notes of citrus, floral, and chocolate, and a high acidity.

    3. If you would like to try coffee from Yirgacheffe, we would suggest the Yirgacheffe coffee bean below:

    Yirgacheffe-coffee

    View Product on Amazon.com

  3. Harrar: This region is known for producing coffee with a bold and earthy flavor profile and a low to medium acidity. The coffee beans grown here are also typically smaller in size compared to those grown in other regions.
  4. Limu: This region is known for producing coffee with a smooth and balanced flavor profile and a medium acidity. The coffee grown here is considered to be among the most consistent in Ethiopia, with a reliable quality and flavor year after year.

Overall, each region in Ethiopia has its own unique characteristics and contributes to the diversity and complexity of Ethiopian coffee as a whole.

What kind of flavor profile does Ethiopian coffee have?

Ethiopian coffee is known for its complex and diverse flavor profile, which can include notes of fruit, floral, and spice, with varying levels of acidity, sweetness, and bitterness. Some of the most common flavor notes found in Ethiopian coffee include:

  • Berry: Many Ethiopian coffees have berry-like notes, including blueberry, blackberry, and raspberry.
  • Floral: Ethiopian coffee can also have floral notes, such as jasmine, rose, and lemon blossom.
  • Citrus: Bright and tangy citrus notes, including lemon and orange, are also common in Ethiopian coffee.
  • Chocolate: Some Ethiopian coffee can have chocolate notes, including dark chocolate and cocoa.
  • Spice: Some Ethiopian coffee can have spicy notes, such as black pepper, clove, and nutmeg.

The flavor profile of Ethiopian coffee can vary greatly depending on the region it was grown, the altitude, and the processing method used. Additionally, the roast level of the coffee can also greatly impact the flavor profile, with lighter roasts generally having a brighter and more acidic flavor and darker roasts having a bolder and more full-bodied flavor.

Tips on how to brew coffee with Ethiopian beans

Here are some tips on brewing coffee with Ethiopian beans to get the best flavor and aroma:

  1. Use Freshly Roasted Beans: Use freshly roasted Ethiopian coffee beans to ensure maximum flavor and aroma. Beans that have been roasted more than a few weeks prior to brewing can start to lose their freshness and flavor.
  2. Grind Just Before Brewing: Grind the coffee beans just before brewing to ensure maximum freshness. A medium grind works best for pour over and French press brewing methods, while a finer grind is recommended for espresso.
  3. Use the Right Water: Use filtered or bottled water with a neutral pH to brew your coffee, as tap water can contain impurities that can negatively impact the flavor of the coffee.
  4. Experiment with Brewing Methods: Different brewing methods can produce different flavor profiles from the same coffee beans. Experiment with pour over, French press, drip, and espresso to find your preferred brewing method.
  5. Control the Brew Time: Experiment with the brew time to find the right balance between extraction and bitterness. Typically, brewing times of 2-4 minutes are recommended for pour over and French press methods, while espresso shots are typically brewed in 20-30 seconds.
  6. Adjust the Water Temperature: Use water that is between 195°F and 205°F to brew your coffee to ensure proper extraction.

By following these tips, you can brew a delicious and flavorful cup of coffee with Ethiopian beans and experience the unique and complex flavor profile of this world-renowned coffee.

You might also like to read: Tips for brewing a perfect cup of coffee at home

Brewing drip coffee with Ethiopian beans

Here is a step-by-step guide on brewing drip coffee with Ethiopian beans:

  1. Prepare the Equipment: Gather the equipment you’ll need, including a drip coffee maker, a coffee filter, a coffee grinder, and a measuring cup.
  2. Grind the Beans: Use a medium grind for the best flavor extraction. Measure out the desired amount of Ethiopian coffee beans, typically 1 to 2 tablespoons of coffee per 6 ounces of water.
  3. Place the Filter: Place a coffee filter in the basket of your drip coffee maker and add the ground coffee.
  4. Heat the Water: Fill the reservoir of your coffee maker with filtered water, making sure to use water between 195°F and 205°F.
  5. Start the Brewing Process: Turn on the coffee maker and let it brew for about 3 to 4 minutes.
  6. Serve and Enjoy: Once the brewing process is complete, serve your Ethiopian coffee hot and enjoy the complex and delicious flavor profile.

Brewing French press coffee with Ethiopian beans

Here is a step-by-step guide on brewing French press coffee with Ethiopian beans:

  1. Prepare the Equipment: Gather the equipment you’ll need, including a French press, a coffee grinder, a measuring cup, and a stovetop kettle or heat-proof pitcher.
  2. Grind the Beans: Use a coarse grind for French press brewing. Measure out the desired amount of Ethiopian coffee beans, typically 1/4 to 1/3 cup of coffee for a 34-ounce French press.
  3. Heat the Water: Fill your kettle or pitcher with filtered water and heat to just before boiling, around 200°F.
  4. Add the Coffee: Place the ground coffee into the French press.
  5. Pour the Water: Pour the hot water over the coffee in the French press, making sure to saturate all of the grounds. Let the coffee steep for about 4 minutes.
  6. Plunge the French Press: After 4 minutes, press down on the plunger to separate the coffee grounds from the liquid.
  7. Serve and Enjoy: Pour the brewed coffee into your mug and enjoy the unique and delicious flavor profile of Ethiopian coffee.

Brewing Cold Brew coffee with Ethiopian beans

  1. Prepare the Equipment: Gather the equipment you’ll need, including a pitcher or mason jar, a coffee grinder, a coffee filter, and a measuring cup.
  2. Grind the Beans: Use a coarse grind for cold brew coffee. Measure out the desired amount of Ethiopian coffee beans, typically 1/4 to 1/3 cup of coffee for every quart of water.
  3. Mix the Coffee and Water: Place the ground coffee into a pitcher or mason jar, and add filtered water. Stir the coffee and water together to make sure all the grounds are saturated.
  4. Steep: Cover the pitcher or mason jar and let the coffee steep in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours or overnight.
  5. Strain the Coffee: After steeping, strain the coffee through a coffee filter to remove the grounds.
  6. Serve and Enjoy: Serve the cold brew coffee over ice and enjoy the smooth and delicious flavor profile of Ethiopian coffee. You can also dilute the coffee with water or add milk and sweetener to taste.

You might also like to read: Cold Brew and Iced Coffee: What’s the difference?

Final Thoughts

Ethiopian coffee is known for its bright and fruity flavor profile, with notes of berry, citrus, and floral flavors. It is considered to be of high quality and is widely regarded as one of the finest coffees in the world.

Ethiopian coffee is also known for its complex flavor profile, with different varieties displaying a range of tastes. The country of Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee and has a rich coffee culture, with traditional coffee ceremonies still being practiced today.

FAQ

Q1: Is Ethiopian coffee arabica, Robusta, or some other type?

The majority of coffee produced in Ethiopia is Arabica. Arabica coffee is known for its sweet, fruity and complex flavor profile, while Robusta is known for its strong and bold taste. Arabica is generally considered to be of higher quality than Robusta.

Q2: What does Ethiopian coffee taste like?

Ethiopian coffee is known for its bright and fruity taste, with notes of berry, citrus, and floral flavors. It is often described as having a wine-like acidity and a clean finish. Ethiopian coffee is also known for its complex flavor profile, with different varieties displaying a range of tastes, including earthy, spicy, and chocolatey notes. The specific taste profile of Ethiopian coffee can vary greatly depending on the region in which it is grown, the altitude, and the processing methods used.

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Cold Brew and Iced Coffee: What’s the difference?

The warmer months whet the appetite for cold coffee beverages. Iced coffee and cold brew both can provide a refreshing caffeinated drink. There is sometimes confusion between iced coffee and cold brew coffee. There is a difference between iced coffee and cold brew coffee.

Iced coffee is coffee that is brewed in the “normal” way, using hot water and then subsequently cooled with ice. It is typically served sweetened and possibly with other flavorings.

ice-coffee

Cold brew coffee is made by steeping ground coffee beans in room temperature or colder water. As you might imagine, this requires a longer brew time (perhaps over-night or even longer) and results in a smoother taste.

cold-brew

Is cold brew healthier than ice coffee?

There is increasing evidence that coffee in general is good for your health as it includes beneficial antioxidants. Since cold brew coffee typically tastes smoother, it is more often consumed black—without potentially harmful sugar, etc.

However, there is some concern that cold brewing is less efficient at extracting antioxidants from coffee beans, which might provide a marginal health benefit to hot brewed coffees. But the differences are likely small.

Is cold brew stronger than regular coffee?

Does cold-brew coffee have more caffeine? Typically, cold brewed coffee is brewed with more coffee (vs. water) than hot brewed coffee, so you start with a stronger coffee drink. However, caffeine is water soluble, and hot water will generally be more efficient at extracting the caffeine. The amount of caffeine in your drink is dependent on how you brewed it, the amount of coffee used, and any dilution before consumption.

How long does cold-brew coffee last in the refrigerator?

Since typically cold brew coffee is concentrated, it may be readily stored for later use. Unlike hot brew coffee, cold brew coffee can last 10 to 15 days in the refrigerator.

Can I make cold brew using a French Press?

Here’s an easy recipe for great cold brew coffee made with a French Press:

  • Put ground coffee into a French press and add room-temperature water.
  • Place plunger lid on top and press the plunger down only 1-2 inches to fully submerge the coffee.
  • Do not press the plunger all the way down.
  • Let coffee steep at room temperature for 16 to 18 hours.
  • Pour the coffee through a coffee filter and transfer to an airtight container in your refrigerator.
  • Serve in a glass over ice with equal parts of milk or water.

Want to make coffeehouse cold brew at home?

Do you want the convenience of cold brew that tastes like it came from your favorite coffee house but only takes minutes to make rather than hours or days? You might consider:

Cuisinart DCB-10 Automatic Cold Brew Coffeemaker

Cuisinart-DCB-10-Automatic-Cold-Brew-Coffeemaker

View Product on Amazon.com

This Cuisinart machine can produce delicious, smooth, and less acidic cold brew coffee in 25-45 minutes (depending on desired strength). A push of a button can cold-brew up to 7 cups of triple-filtered coffee with your choice of 3 strengths.

Traditional cold brewing methods take 12-48 hours to make delicious cold brew coffee. Now you can enjoy your triple-filtered, sediment-free coffeehouse cold brew in minutes.

The carafe can be used to store your cold brew coffee up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

Clean-up is a breeze, as all removable parts are dishwasher safe.

Includes Limited 3-year warranty.

Note that this fine machine produces cold brew that is ready to drink but does not produce concentrate.

How to make bulk cold brew coffee?

  • Start with the coffee-1 pound coarse grind.
  • Place ground coffee in a 3-4-quart open container.
  • Add 1 quart of water and stir enough to wet all the grounds. Then add another quart of water.
  • Let steep for 24 hours.
  • Strain into another container with a wire mesh filter and then filter again using a paper coffee filter.

Now you have about ½ gallon of cold brew concentrate.

You can adjust quantities to fit your needs.

Types of cold-brew coffee

Once you have your cold brew concentrate, what do you do with it? There are many options. Most commonly, the concentrate is either mixed with cold water or with milk in equal quantities. Mixing with milk makes for a richer drink, but it is enjoyable both ways.

  • Some drinkers use the concentrate mixed with hot water to make a warm drink.
  • Cold brew concentrate also can serve as the base for many other beverages.
  • For example, New Orleans Style cold brew coffee calls for mixing ground chicory with the ground coffee for steeping. This beverage is finished by combining the coffee-chicory brew with generous quantities of milk and sweetener.
  • You can also try a cold brew martini for a little extra kick.

Nitro cold brew?

Infusing cold brew coffee with nitrogen is a relatively recent invention. The nitrogen gas (“nitro”) introduces many very small bubbles into the coffee, which give it a smoother, less bitter taste and a smooth mouthfeel. The nitro gives the drink a foamy top.

Nitro-Cold-Brew-in-Glass

Nitro cold brew has been around for about 10 years and really gained notoriety when Starbucks began offering it in 1500 stores in 2016.

There are now pre-made canned nitro beverages and home machine that allow infusion of nitrogen by the home cold-brew maker.

What do you need to make cold brew coffee?

Cold brew coffee is made with only three ingredients: coarsely ground coffee beans, cold or room temperature water, and time. You can make a better tasting cup of cold brew coffee at home quite easily following one of our recipes above. Of course, you will need to plan ahead because of the need to steep the coffee for at least 25 minutes with an automatic Cold Brew Coffeemaker, and 12-24 hours without one, to extract the flavors.

Your might like to read: Perfect Iced Coffee Drink for Hot Days.

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Coffee and Your Health

I woke up this morning to the headlines that yet another study had been done of coffee to see whether it was actually healthy or unhealthy to have our daily cup. Since we drink coffee ubiquitously, there is also been a continuing desire by scientists to study and understand the effects of drinking coffee on our bodies. This study was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

coffee-and-your-health
Image credit: shutterstock.com

Fortunately for those of us who are coffee aficionados, studies increasingly have been showing that drinking coffee regularly may have a positive effect on delaying premature death. Over the past five years, multiple studies have shown that regular consumption of coffee is associated with us on average, living longer.

The classic study to report on the health benefits of coffee was published in 2012 in the New England Journal of Medicine and was titled “Association of Coffee Drinking with Total and Cause-Specific Mortality”. That study examined the association of coffee drinking with subsequent total and cause specific mortality among a very large population of 229,119 men and 173,141 women from the National Institutes of Health–AARP Diet and Health Study who were 50 to 71 years of age at baseline.

Although there have been many subsequent studies regarding the consumption of coffee and health, we really haven’t done much about saying what kind of coffee are we consuming. Is it weak coffee? Or is that a hearty espresso? If we put sugar in our coffee does that cancel out all health effects? How about artificial sweeteners?

An article published today in the annals of internal medicine concluded from analysis of a very large British database that people who drink one and ½ to 3 ½ cups of coffee per day were 29% to 31% less likely to die from any cause during the seven-year study period. And that result did not seem to change whether people consume their coffee black or sweetened it with a small amount of sugar. The data for this study represented more than one half million participants in the UK Biobank.

This study found the data linking consumption of coffee whether unsweetened or sweetened with sugar to be directly associated with reduced mortality. The results were not so clear with respect to artificial sweeteners as the data as to which subjects use which artificial sweeteners was less clear.

The conclusion of the study was, “moderate consumption of unsweetened and sugar sweetened coffee is associated with lower risk for death.”

Not so very long ago, coffee was considered a possible carcinogen by the World Health Organization. By 2016 coffee research found that the beverage was not associated with an increased risk of cancer. In fact, statistically coffee was found to decrease the risk of certain cancers. Nonetheless, in 2018 California passed legislation that coffee must bear a cancer warning.

Caffeine has long been suspected of being the active compound that would make coffee good or bad for one’s health, but the truth is that coffee is chemically very complex and is difficult to tell whether the effects observed are from the caffeine or from other chemicals in the beans.

Coffee and cancer

It appears that coffee may affect how cancers develop. Here the results might be primarily good for coffee (and for us). Some of the polyphenols (there are over 8000 polyphenols which are micronutrients that naturally occur in plants) in coffee have been shown to prevent cancer cell growth in animal studies. Caffeine itself may have the power of interfering with the growth of cancer cells and subsequent spread.

Coffee also appears to reduce inflammation and improve antioxidant response which is not only a risk factor for many cancers, inflammation is known to have other deleterious effects on the body. The American Institute for Cancer Research concluded that the risk for endometrial and liver cancers might be reduced in regular coffee drinkers.

Type II diabetes

In seemingly contradictory results, we know that caffeine can increase blood sugar in the short term but longer-term studies have shown that regular coffee drinkers have a measurably lower risk of developing type II diabetes compared to nondrinkers.

cType-II-diabetes

One large-scale meta-study of people with type II diabetes followed for a period of 20 years showed that the more coffee a person had to drink per day was directly associated with lowering the risk of developing type II diabetes. The effect ranged up to 33% reduction for drinkers of 6 cups of coffee a day. The same result has been found in other studies.

Heart health

Caffeine is a stimulant which affects the central nervous system. As such, the medical community worried that it might be bad for heart health. In fact, available evidence suggests that drinking coffee regularly may lower the risk of heart disease and stroke. Analysis of the large Nurses Health Study database showed those drinking four or more cups of coffee each day were associated with a 20% lower risk of stroke as compared with non-coffee drinkers. Interestingly, decaffeinated coffee also reduced the incidence of strokes by 11%. The consumption of other caffeinated drinks had no such effect, so it is reasonable to conclude that the results are from other compounds in coffee rather than caffeine.

Looking at the data for a large number of women (37,514) concluded a 21% risk of heart disease was associated with drinking 2 to 3 cups of coffee a day. Similarly, meta-analysis of studies of both men and women found a favorable link of a 21% lower risk of cardiovascular disease death among coffee drinkers as compared to nondrinkers.

Depression

Polyphenols, which occur naturally in coffee, can act as antioxidants reducing inflammation of cells. Large-scale studies have shown coffee drinkers are less likely to become depressed than nondrinkers. In fact, the risk of suicide in men was found to be 45% lower for those who drink 2 to 3 cups of coffee daily and 53% lower among those who drank four or more cups daily. Data analysis suggests the result may be from the caffeine in coffee, so decaffeinated coffee does not have the same result.

Neurodegenerative diseases

Studies have shown the consumption of coffee reduces the probability of developing Parkinson’s disease. It is thought this may be caused by the caffeine in coffee tending to protect cells in the brain that produce dopamine. Here are the results seem to suggest the more coffee you drink the better. A Finnish study found the greatest benefit for those who drink at least 10 cups of coffee per day!!!

Alzheimer’s disease

There have been a limited number of studies of the effects of coffee consumption on the probability of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Because of the small number of studies, scientists have been reluctant to draw strong conclusions.

coffee-prevent-alzheimer

One study (CAIDE studying cardiovascular risk factors in aging and dementia) suggested that those drinking 3 to 5 cups of coffee a day in middle age was associated with a significantly decreased risk of Alzheimer’s disease later in life.

Mortality

Consistent with other studies, a large study of more than 200,000 participants for up to 30 years found that drinking large amounts of coffee appeared to lower the risk of early death from all causes by 15%. These results seem to be consistent across caffeinated decaffeinated and instant coffees.

The bottom line

There is a growing body of evidence from studies of the effects of drinking coffee to suggest that coffee might be beneficial with its associated reduced risk for several chronic diseases. In particular, data suggests that coffee may be beneficial for cancers and cardiovascular diseases.

So drink up!

You might also like to read:

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Tips for brewing a perfect cup of espresso at home

There are some simple things you can do both to learn to brew the perfect cup of espresso and to avoid some critical errors that can derail your espresso brewing.

A quick review of how espresso is made illustrates the importance of these tips for brewing perfect espresso.

espresso-brewing-tips
Image credit: Creative Commons

Espresso is made by forcing hot but not boiling water through finely ground coffee. This is done at fairly high pressure as coffee beans for espresso is ground quite finely. The coffee is tamped into a “puck”. The finer the grind of the coffee, the more time and pressure it takes to push water through it.

Your goal should be that the water for either a single shot or a double shot be forced through the puck in 25 to 30 seconds. If it takes more, your grind is too fine. If it takes less time, your grind is too course. A single shot (1.5 ounces of water pushed through 1 tablespoon of coffee grounds) should take the same time as a double shot (3 ounces of water pushed through 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds).

Having the right equipment to brew espresso is key to a perfect cup of espresso

You will need:

Brewing the perfect cup of espresso: this process will vary somewhat depending on the features of your espresso machine and whether it is manual, semi-automatic, or super automatic.

  • For the perfect cup of espresso, it is best to preheat everything by running the first cycle without coffee. This will heat the porta filter and warm your cup with hot water
  • put the appropriate amount of ground coffee in your porta filter and lock the portafilter in place
  • start the pump (if you must do this manually) and then stop pumping when you reach 1.5 or 3.0 ounces, depending on whether you are making a single or a double
  • during the extraction cycle, the coffee will start off being very dark and will gradually change to a lighter, gold color (“Crema”) near the end of the cycle

Key tips for brewing the perfect cup of espresso:

  1. make sure everything is clean when you start, especially the portafilter
  2. preheat your equipment as mentioned above
  3. use filtered or distilled water
  4. grind the beans immediately before you use them
  5. extraction time should be 25 to 30 seconds (change the grind if this is not true)
  6. remember, 1 tablespoon of coffee grounds for a single shot or 2 tablespoons for a double shot
  7. tamp the coffee into the portafilter
  8. lock the porta filter into the brew head (clean off any coffee grounds that with interfere with a tight seal)
  9. Use the appropriate button for a single shot or a double shot of espresso
how-to-brew-a-perfect-cup-of-espresso
Image credit: Creative Commons

You might also like to read: What is single-origin coffee beans?

Top mistakes to avoid as a new home barista:

  1. Using coffee that is not fresh—get to know a local coffee roaster
  2. Not using a scale (Eyeballing things) — use a scale to weigh the coffee you’ve tamped into your portafilter
  3. Inconsistent tamping—consistency makes your experience repeatable cup after cup
  4. Using bad water—use filtered or distilled water both for taste and to reduce espresso machine maintenance
  5. Improper cleaning—make sure you clean everything as directed
  6. Using low-fat milk—the fat is essential to taste and texture of your drinks
  7. Not following your recipe (again, repeatability is the goal)
  8. Not having your machine “up to temperature”—purge the cold water in your machine before brewing.
  9. Be ready to enjoy and try new things!

Your might like to read:

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