If you’re a self described ‘coffee snob’ or a budding espresso connoisseur, then you’re probably new to the world of high end espresso machines.
If you’re confused about buying a machine or even brewing your first espresso, here are 3 quick things to avoid.
1) Buy a machine that doesn’t match your needs.
A lot of people will buy a machine because it may have some hot new feature, or flashy ‘bells and whistles’. But when it comes right down to it, the exciting feature that caught your eye may still lousy for what you’re looking to do.
If you want a quick drip cup o’ joe with no frills attached, buying a DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM 3500 will leave you feeling had. That would be like buying a high performance car just to drive to the grocery store. On the other hand, if nothing gives you greater pleasure than having your own personal automated barista (unemployable liberal arts degree not included) and watching the thick, foamy crema settle at the top of your espresso, then the DeLonghi Magnifica is right up your alley.
2) Using the wrong water.
Believe it or not tap water may actually be better for adding personality to your espresso brew. Now you don’t necessarily want to drink water so filled with iron that it that it turns your sink red (been there, done that!), but distilled water can actually leave the flavor of your espresso lacking and you wanting more. Obviously, espresso is composed primarily of water, so what water you use can have a distinct impact on the flavor of your pour and affect the body and crema of the drink.
3) Allow the beans to become stale before brewing
If you go through the expense of getting a nice espresso machine don’t pour your money down the drain by freezing your grounds or the beans. Freezing can cause freezer burn, dehydrate the grounds or beans, and speed up the oxidation process. Coffee begins to lose its body and flavor within minutes or being ground, so only grind what you need when you need it.
Once the coffee has been ground the surface area of the coffee has increased which allows for faster oxidation – resulting in the beans becoming stale before you use it. Grinding right before you brew ensures that you’ll get the best brew from your coffee.
So there you have it, 3 three basic ‘deadly sins’ to avoid to make sure you brew good coffee every time. Brew on!
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