Proper Dose: 7-9
Grams:
When it comes to espresso blends arabica coffee
beans are recommended and mostly used. Some
professional barista's even consider adding
a little bit of high quality robusta beans to
enhance the crema, usually 10-15%.
Proper Dose for 1 shot should be between
7-9 grams, and 14-18 grams for a double shot.
1 oz of Water:
A 1 oz shot is considered the "median",
and is often recommended; however, this varies
from person to person since in the end it's
all about the taste.
Some prefer their shots 'Ristretto",
which is about 3/4 of an ounce. Also, on the
other hand, others prefer anywhere from 1
¼ - 1 ½ ounce shots.
Brewing Time:
28-30 Seconds:
28-30 seconds is considered excellent timing.
Again, since in the end it all comes down
to taste, some barista's prefer anywhere from
24-28 seconds.
Very Fine Grind:
A very fine grind is highly recommended to
ensure quality taste. Nearly 20% of Grinds
should be extracted; pouring out along with
the hot water.
The rest of the grinds should NOT be used
for a second shot; since on the 2nd and 3rd
shot, you will only extract bad grinds, which
will cause poor flavor.
Equipment:
The recipe above is quite simple and covers
the basics. Although the factors above need
to be kept in mind when extracting the perfect
shot, there are still other considerations
to keep in mind.
The perfect espresso shot is also determined
by its maker; the espresso machine.
In order to achieve the perfect shot, each
piece of equipment may require further alteration
such as adjusting the water temperature, dose,
etc. This all depends on the age, model, level
of maintenance, and wear and tear that your
espresso machine has endured.
