Making a Great Cup of Espresso Coffee
Christopher Wen

Defined Tag: Espresso Coffee.

Espresso coffee is becoming one of the most popular types of beverage that people are drinking around the world. It is a blend of several different types of coffee beans from different countries.In fact many people believe that it translates as express because of the fact that in cafes it is traditionally brewed when a customer orders and is delivered straight to them. All over the world, the espresso coffee is synonymous with Italy and this is where the best coffee mixtures can be found and have been selected to celebrate the true flavor of the coffee.

Espresso, while apparently a simple drink, is in reality a complex product. Espresso or caffe espresso is a concentrated coffee brew brewed by forcing very hot, but not boiling, water under high pressure through coffee that has been ground to a consistency that is between extremely fine and powder. If you go to a cafe or espresso bar and ask for an espresso, what you will get is a shot-sized glass holding a small amount of very strong coffee.

So what is the difference between espresso and drip coffee? The main differences are the fineness of the grind and the brewing time. The waiting time is also much shorter, made possible by espresso machines that generate up to 15 atmospheres (ATM) of pressure to force the water through the coffee. Drip coffee is made by dripping boiling water over ground coffee, which is ground more coarsely than espresso coffee.

Making Good Espresso

There are many requirements in making a good mug of espresso coffee. First, espresso uses a greater dose of coffee per water then drip coffee. To pull a shot of espresso, a metal filter-basket is filled with 7 to 10 grams of ground coffee for a single shot or 12 to 18 grams for a double shot. The temperature and time of consumption are important variables that must be observed to enjoy an ideal espresso, as it should be consumed within 2 minutes from when it is served. Freshly brewed coffee must be served or mixed into other coffee beverages immediately, or it will begin to degrade due to cooling and oxidation.

The end result should be a cup filled with two 1-1 ounce shots of espresso, topped with of crema. An espresso shot that is brewed in less than 25-seconds is under-extracted. It will appear watery, have little or no crema, and taste weak and bitter. Where on the other hand an espresso shot that is brewed in over 30 seconds is over-extracted.

Coffee Machine Makes Things Easy

Coffee gourmets will insist that if you want coffee done right, you must make your coffee with an automatic specialty coffee machine. All the bells and whistles are available on many modern machines, hence making your brewing experience easy and effortless. The two most important things to consider when buying your machine are whether it can maintain the correct temperature, and second, that it can produce sufficient strength

Making the perfect cup of espresso coffee is a combination of both art and science. Traditionally machines can only be used to make coffee, but most modern espresso coffee machines can also be used to make espresso and cappuccino, as they have a separate spout for frothing milk. And with the consumption of espresso coffee expected to grow as consumption shifts from the coffee bar to the home and to the office, no doubt more and more people are getting coffee machines for themselves. The reason for my interest is that when Im at home, I am able to make and drink espresso coffee with ease anytime I want. You too can try it, and savor the great pleasure of having a great cup of espresso coffee.

Christopher Wen is the webmaster for http://www.greenhealthcoffeeclub.com where he provides you articles, info, and news on coffee and coffee related info.

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