How to Brew the Perfect Espresso

Before you start brewing your “power brew”, pay attention to the selection of coffee itself. Regardless of whether you choose whole beans or ground coffee, its quality is crucial for the final taste. Not every coffee is suitable for a traditional espresso. Particularly good choices include popular Arabica or Robusta. It's best to opt for blends containing at least 50% Arabica. Arabica blends guarantee a delicate taste without strong bitterness and acidity. Blends with Arabica and Robusta, on the other hand, provide a slightly more intense, sharper taste and a greater dose of caffeine. In addition to the type of beans, it's also worth considering their roast level. Medium-roasted blends are a good solution for starting your home espresso adventure. If you opt for whole beans, you'll also need to get a good coffee grinder that can handle grinding without negatively affecting the taste and aroma of the coffee. Importantly, beans are best ground just before brewing – so that the coffee doesn't lose its freshness over time. FormAdore offers a large selection of manual and automatic grinders, including brands like Smeg, AdHoc, KitchenAid, and Peugeot. Remember, however, that pre-ground coffee isn't necessarily a worse choice – many excellent tasting ground coffees are available today. When grinding or buying coffee for espresso, make sure that it is ground evenly and as finely as possible – the appropriate consistency can be compared, for example, to coarsely ground flour.

When preparing espresso, attention should be paid not only to the quality of the coffee but also to the water itself. Its temperature and pressure have a huge impact on the final brewing results. It's absolutely fundamental that the water used for espresso is fresh – if you use an espresso machine, remember to change the water regularly, preferably every day. It should be around 88-94 degrees Celsius. If it's too cold, it won't be able to extract the full depth of flavour from the coffee, while too hot water can result in burning it. Water pressure (when brewing in an espresso machine) should not be lower than 9 bars. When choosing tap water, it's also worth using a filter, for example, a jug filter, which will remove substances that negatively affect the taste, aroma, or appearance.

Espresso can be brewed using either an espresso machine, or with the help of a moka pot or a dripper with paper filters. It all depends on personal preferences and your approach to coffee – many people don't approve of modern devices, preferring only traditional brewing methods such as moka pots and brewers. If you are looking for the right solution, at FormAdore you will find exceptional coffee machines, for example, pressure, portafilter, and filter machines, as well as moka pots or French press brewers. Among the most popular manufacturers are brands like WMF, KitchenAid, Smeg, and the famous lever espresso machine company La Pavoni. For coffee lovers who travel frequently, there's even a travel variant with a dripper from the Stanley brand. It's also definitely worth checking out the Espro brand, which specialises in clever home and portable brewers that you can always have with you!
Thanks to this, everyone can find something for themselves, regardless of equipment and taste preferences. It's also important to remember to use the same amount of ground coffee regardless of the type of accessory or equipment used.

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When it comes to espresso, the proportions of coffee and water are extremely important. To brew an ideal coffee drink straight from the best Italian cafes, you should prepare 7 grams of ground coffee. This is the proportion suggested by experts from the Istituto Nazionale Espresso Italiano itself. Lovers of very strong coffee can, however, use about 16 grams – it all depends on personal taste preferences. The best ratio is 1:2 – meaning that for every 7 grams of coffee, there should be 14 ml of water. You already know the water temperature for brewing espresso – it's also worth knowing what the temperature of the brew in the cup should be, which is 67 (+/- 3) degrees Celsius. The extraction time should not be longer than 25-30 seconds – this is the moment that affects the final taste of the coffee drink. The preferred volume of the brew in the cup, along with the resulting crema, is about 25 ml.

The perfect espresso also requires the right setting in the form of a cup. Properly chosen elements of coffee tableware make the ritual of drinking coffee even more enjoyable. Classic espresso cups often come in a set with saucers. In our offer, you will find both minimalist, traditional sets, as well as those with original, colourful decorations or proposals in a completely modern style. Of particular note are the Forma cups by Bolia in a truly Scandinavian style, the crumpled models from Ćmielów Design Studio, or the triple set of Cecile cups with unique design, produced by Bloomingville. When serving espresso to guests or family members, remember to warm the cups before filling them with coffee – for example, by using hot water. Why? Coffee served in warm vessels delights with an even more intense taste and aroma. If you want your espresso to taste and look even better, don't forget about the right spoon. Some cup sets from the FormAdore assortment are already available with spoons, which also impress with their unique finish. However, you can buy them separately, both as single models and in sets packed in several pieces – perfect for a coffee afternoon with loved ones. If you plan to serve espresso with water, also take a look at our offer of glasses and shot glasses – you will surely find among them an elegant and practical model ideal for a few sips of water.

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You now know what sets espresso apart from other types of coffee drinks, how to prepare it correctly, and what you can serve it in. If you don't yet have the right beans and accessories necessary for brewing, check out our offer and choose products that will allow you to achieve the perfect brew. It takes so little to enjoy the excellent taste of coffee in the comfort of your home!