Espresso

How to Make Espresso at Home

Brewing great espresso may take a little practice to master, and will definitely take some experimentation, which is all part of the fun. Grind size, dose, and extraction time are key factors when brewing espresso, and most likely you’ll have to adjust one or more of these elements several times to get your shot dialed in.

Let's Get Brewing

Brew Time About 2 Minutes.

What You Need

Espresso machine with portafilter

Grinder

19-21 grams of Hair Bender Coffee

Scale

Timer

Knock Box

Brewing Instructions

Simple guidance for a great cup.

Brew Along With Us

Follow along step by step and see how it comes together.

1

Grind and dose coffee

Remove the portafilter from the group head. Wipe it clean and dry out the basket. Zero out the scale and grind about 19.5g of Stumptown Hair Bender coffee to the consistency of confectioner’s sugar directly into the portafilter. Tap it once or twice to settle it and make sure the coffee is evenly distributed in the basket. Press the tamper into the coffee until it feels like the coffee is compacted and pushing back.

2

Prep the machine

Run water through the group head to make sure everything is hot, then lock the portafilter into the group head.

3

Pull a shot of espresso

Start the brew water and a count-up timer simultaneously. Place a cup under the portafilter and watch for a steady stream of espresso that should start out dark, thick and slow, and gradually lighten and increase in speed as it brews. The total extraction time should be between 23-28 seconds to brew about 1.5 ounces or 24-28 grams of espresso.

* Tip: If it is pulling too slowly, try a coarser grind. If it brews too quickly, try a finer grind.

4

Serve and enjoy

Cheers!