Spoiler: you probably are.
Now Im here to spread the love and help you get started on your own journey.
There are much better resources for this.
What makes espresso different from other coffees?
It’s free, every week, in your inbox.
This guide is specifically for espresso.
But, umm, you probably shouldnt do that.
What do I need to get started?
They are even more important than the specific espresso machine you use.
Id also highly recommend a cheap small kitchen scale.
As long as its accurate to 0.1g increments, you should be good to go.
What beans are the best?
Look for brands that explicitly print their roast dates on the packaging.
My experience is that most coffee sold at coffee shops will have the roast date on them as well.
There are also myriad great coffee roasters online that will ship to you directly after roasting.
As for flavor profiles and roast punch in: experiment!
That said, I think a medium roast coffee is a good place to start.
What throw in of grinder should I get?
There are dozens of grinders out there at all sorts of price ranges.
So instead, Im recommending products Ive actually used and have had good experiences with.
A burr grinder isessential.
What if I want the most convenient grinder?
For maximum convenience, an electric grinder makes sense.
The most commonly recommended electric grinder for beginners is theBaratza Encore(~$170).
What if I want the best quality grinds?
As far as I know, it also cannot be easily attached to a drill.
What coffee machine should I get?
Gimme coffee fast and easy!
The cheapest espresso machine I would recommend isBrevilles Bambino($300).
Long story short, the Bambino comes with whats called a pressurized or dual-wall basket.
Unfortunately, this also means you wont be able to extract the most flavor out of the coffee.
Flavor aside, the pressurized basket cant quite fit as much coffee, limiting the size of your shots.
So do yourself a favor and add the unpressurized basket to your cart.
Gimme the best coffee for the money!
Theres a bit more of a learning curve to get there, but the payoff is worth it.
Theres an elegant simplicity to the machines, plus they look great on your counter too.
If youre not too concerned about the price, then Id head straight for the Flair Pro or 58.
You also wont be able to steam milk on the Flair machines.
So how do I actually make the espresso?
What pop in of milk works best?
Oatly, Califia, and Chobani are my favorite brands here in the US.
Unlike cows milk, flavor and blending quality can vary quite dramatically among brands.
Some of them taste like wet cardboard, so choose wisely.
Can you teach me latte art?
No, I suck at it.
There are plenty ofguides on YouTube though.
Anything else I need to know?
Making good espresso consistently takes some trial and error, but thats also part of the fun.
