How to Brew a Great Espresso at Home?

What's the difference between roasting for filter and espresso? Why do specialty coffee websites always separate these two categories? And, of course, how can you achieve the best taste when making espresso at home?

It may seem simple — grind the beans, load the portafilter, and press a button. But in reality, espresso is one of the most complex coffee drinks to brew, requiring time and practice to master. Choosing the right beans, grinding them properly, maintaining clean equipment, using the right temperature, dosing correctly, and controlling the extraction time all play a crucial role.

Let’s break down the key factors that every espresso lover should know.

➡️ Beans & Roasting

Specialty coffee websites always categorize beans for espresso and filter brewing, and this distinction is there for a reason. Espresso roasts are darker to create a richer, fuller-bodied coffee compared to filter brews.

If you use filter-roasted beans for espresso, you might not be happy with the result. The coffee could taste too watery and acidic, failing to reveal its full potential.

➡️ Coffee Dose & Grind Size

Another important factor is the amount of coffee you use.

The ideal dose depends on your taste preferences and your portafilter’s capacity. Most espresso machines come with two baskets, and we recommend starting with 18g of coffee — this is the standard we use in our café. Of course, you can experiment to find what works best for you!

The grind should be fine, similar to the texture of sand on a tropical beach. If you’re unsure about adjusting the grind yourself, visit us at:
📎 Av. 25 de Abril 181, Cascais
📎 Rua Porto Alegre, 2A, Oeiras

➡️ Even Coffee Bed Distribution

One crucial rule you shouldn’t ignore: water must flow evenly through the coffee grounds to extract all the flavors properly.

At the very least, tap the portafilter gently to level the surface before tamping. Your espresso machine probably comes with a plastic tamper, but for a more consistent puck, we recommend investing in a metal tamper. Most standard tampers have a 58mm diameter, but make sure to check the size of your basket.

➡️ Water Temperature & Pressure

Not all home espresso machines allow temperature control, but if yours does, set it no higher than 96°C.

Then, adjust based on taste — if your espresso tastes too acidic, increase the temperature slightly. If it's too bitter, lower it.

If you're considering buying an espresso machine, make sure it has a pressure potential of at least 16 bars.

➡️ Water-to-Coffee Ratio

The most classic espresso recipe follows a 1:2 ratio — meaning for every 1g of coffee, you extract 2ml of espresso.

So, if you're using 18g of ground coffee, your final espresso should weigh around 36g.

In our Espresso section, you’ll find six different coffee options, including our newest addition — Brazil Chapada, freshly sourced from Bagagem Farm in Brazil.

If you're a fan of this farm’s lots (like Peaberry), we highly recommend trying this new release. It has a rich, nutty profile with deep chocolate notes—imagine chocolate with nuts, but in this case, it’s more like nuts with chocolate!

You can order for home delivery or pickup, and we’ll notify you when your order is ready! 🚀