How to Make the Perfect Espresso at Home

Learning how to make espresso at home is easier than you think. With fresh beans, the right grind and a few simple habits, you can make an espresso at home that rivals your favorite coffee shop.

1. Start with fresh coffee

Great espresso starts with fresh coffee. Beans roasted a few days ago produce a thick, golden crema and a rich taste. Old beans give a thin crema and a flat, bitter shot. Feel Espresso is roasted 1–5 days before delivery, so your beans arrive ready for espresso.

2. Use the right dose

For a double espresso, use about 16–18 g of coffee. Use a kitchen scale if you can: consistency is the secret to a good shot every day.

3. Grind fine and fresh

Espresso needs a fine grind, close to powdered sugar. Grind just before brewing. If your shot runs too fast, grind finer; if it runs too slow, grind coarser.

4. Tamp evenly

Level the coffee in the basket, then press firmly and evenly with the tamper. An uneven tamp lets water find an easy path and gives a weak, sour espresso.

5. Watch the extraction time

A classic double espresso gives about 36 g of liquid in 25–30 seconds. Use this as a starting point and adjust to your taste.

6. Taste and adjust

• Sour or watery: grind finer or use a little more coffee
• Bitter or burnt: grind coarser or stop the shot earlier
• Thin crema: your beans may be too old

Espresso tips for every day

• Preheat your cup and machine
• Clean the portafilter after every shot
• Store beans in an airtight container
• Descale your machine regularly

The best beans for espresso

Our espresso blends are strong and full-bodied, made for a perfect crema. Prefer a unique profile? Try our single origin coffees, or start with our best sellers.