I used to feel the same way about straight espresso, but traveling in Italy changed my opinion. I ended up really appreciating the rich flavor and thick mouthfeel, and I liked that you could knock them back in a couple of sips and then move on to the next thing. Honestly, I probably wouldn't have given it that much of a chance if I hadn't read that ordering coffee drinks with milk after noon or so was kind of a faux pas.
I have and recommend a Gagia Classic. It's a very good entry level espresso machine. But, the more important (and more expensive) piece is a quality grinder that will do consistent espresso grinds
This is a common misconception in that if you have an Espresso machine, you must drink Espresso. I have owned 2 REAL Espresso machines (Rocket Apartamento and my current machine, a Rocket R58) and I have never had a cup of Espresso. I almost always drink Americano Coffee; a shot of Espresso and 3 shots of hot water. Very few people I know in the U.S. drink straight Espresso. It's too strong for me and destroys my palate.
Between 1999 and 2010 I spent a lot of time working in Lugano; although it's in Switzerland it's in the Italian speaking canton of Ticino and to be honest it feels like you are in Italy - especially when it comes to coffee (and food). I remember my boss getting a long lecture on the correct etiquette of coffee ordering when he tried to order a cappuccino in the afternoon (fortunately I was already an espresso drinker so I avoided that faux pas).
You just reminded me that the one thing I hated about all my trips (work or holiday) to the US was my inability (except for a couple of honourable exceptions) to get a decent cup of something resembling coffee and not some giant mug of coloured water that tasted like the waste from a dishwasher.This is a common misconception in that if you have an Espresso machine, you must drink Espresso. I have owned 2 REAL Espresso machines (Rocket Apartamento and my current machine, a Rocket R58) and I have never had a cup of Espresso. I almost always drink Americano Coffee; a shot of Espresso and 3 shots of hot water. Very few people I know in the U.S. drink straight Espresso. It's too strong for me and destroys my palate.
The object of espresso is to create a coffee drink that actually TASTES like coffee SMELLS. This is achieved by using the right amount of grounds, ground at the correct fineness to extract a shot of 30ml (60,l if using a double basket) at 9-10 bar pressure in 25-30 seconds. Under-extracted, your shot will be sour. Over-extracted and your shot will be bitter. If done correctly (it takes a little practice) your "shot" will smell and taste just like the fresh ground coffee which you used to make it. Take that shot and add hot water (my preference is a 3 to 1 ratio, YMMV) and you now have a cup of COFFEE that tastes exactly like it smells.
A REAL Espresso machine will start at around $1,500 and an appropriate Espresso grinder will cost you another $1,000 so yes, it's a lot of money to spend for a damn cup of coffee but if this is one of your life's pleasures, it will bring you immense joy then it's cheap, all things being relative.
BTW, Espresso machines and grinders are COMPLETELY rebuildable and the parts are relatively inexpensive. Even if you only have rudimentary mechanical skills you can do it all yourself, just make sure you buy brand names so parts will always be available. In 4 years, I have had zero repairs on either the grinder or the Espresso machine with minimal maintenance (maybe an hour every 2-3 months) defined as decalcification and light tear down and cleaning of the brew head.
A WORD OF CAUTION:
Owning a real Espresso machine will lead to worse things happening to . You will discover that there are a lot better beans out there and you can taste the difference, so you will seek out boutique roasters with good reputations making small batches. After you get tired of paying Boutique roaster prices, you start looking at roasters and, well.....
And down the rabbit hole you go....
One day, after all this you will find yourself at Pete's or Starbucks or CB&TL and you grab a cup of their coffee (probably an Americano since drip coffee is just soggy bean juice and because of your Espresso, you can no longer abide such an abhorrence!) and you might be compelled to spit it out! You might even be offended that they sell that crappy burned brew at all let alone for 4 bucks a cup! Then you will proceed to recite in your head ALL the things they did wrong in roasting and brewing the coffee in front of you. You might even question the quality of the green they are using(Is that Robusto I taste?), and you will think to yourself "Hell! For 6-8 bucks I can buy a pound of some of the world's finest Arabican green beans (un-roasted coffee beans) and then you will know you have arrived on the Coffee Consciousness Plane...from which there is no turning back:
You have taken the Red Pill....
FWIW, I continue to thoroughly enjoy my journey amongst the Coffee Conscious and would not give it up for ten times the money I have invested.
Sorry for using so many words but all of us on here know about passion and hobbies....
-MIKE DROP-
^^ That!This is a common misconception in that if you have an Espresso machine, you must drink Espresso. I have owned 2 REAL Espresso machines (Rocket Apartamento and my current machine, a Rocket R58) and I have never had a cup of Espresso. I almost always drink Americano Coffee; a shot of Espresso and 3 shots of hot water. Very few people I know in the U.S. drink straight Espresso. It's too strong for me and destroys my palate.
The object of espresso is to create a coffee drink that actually TASTES like coffee SMELLS. This is achieved by using the right amount of grounds, ground at the correct fineness to extract a shot of 30ml (60,l if using a double basket) at 9-10 bar pressure in 25-30 seconds. Under-extracted, your shot will be sour. Over-extracted and your shot will be bitter. If done correctly (it takes a little practice) your "shot" will smell and taste just like the fresh ground coffee which you used to make it. Take that shot and add hot water (my preference is a 3 to 1 ratio, YMMV) and you now have a cup of COFFEE that tastes exactly like it smells.
A REAL Espresso machine will start at around $1,500 and an appropriate Espresso grinder will cost you another $1,000 so yes, it's a lot of money to spend for a damn cup of coffee but if this is one of your life's pleasures, it will bring you immense joy then it's cheap, all things being relative.
BTW, Espresso machines and grinders are COMPLETELY rebuildable and the parts are relatively inexpensive. Even if you only have rudimentary mechanical skills you can do it all yourself, just make sure you buy brand names so parts will always be available. In 4 years, I have had zero repairs on either the grinder or the Espresso machine with minimal maintenance (maybe an hour every 2-3 months) defined as decalcification and light tear down and cleaning of the brew head.
A WORD OF CAUTION:
Owning a real Espresso machine will lead to worse things happening to . You will discover that there are a lot better beans out there and you can taste the difference, so you will seek out boutique roasters with good reputations making small batches. After you get tired of paying Boutique roaster prices, you start looking at roasters and, well.....
And down the rabbit hole you go....
One day, after all this you will find yourself at Pete's or Starbucks or CB&TL and you grab a cup of their coffee (probably an Americano since drip coffee is just soggy bean juice and because of your Espresso, you can no longer abide such an abhorrence!) and you might be compelled to spit it out! You might even be offended that they sell that crappy burned brew at all let alone for 4 bucks a cup! Then you will proceed to recite in your head ALL the things they did wrong in roasting and brewing the coffee in front of you. You might even question the quality of the green they are using(Is that Robusto I taste?), and you will think to yourself "Hell! For 6-8 bucks I can buy a pound of some of the world's finest Arabican green beans (un-roasted coffee beans) and then you will know you have arrived on the Coffee Consciousness Plane...from which there is no turning back:
You have taken the Red Pill....
FWIW, I continue to thoroughly enjoy my journey amongst the Coffee Conscious and would not give it up for ten times the money I have invested.
Sorry for using so many words but all of us on here know about passion and hobbies....
-MIKE DROP-
No sucking available, but you can steam it! I have a good grinder I've had for 7 years, and it was well under $1,000. One in the Baratza line of grinders.
if you steam it, may I highly recommend that you order the machine with the micro foam attachment. You will thank me later.
It's a slippery slope.....
Coffee conversations can only lead to bitterness!
Maybe 50gr? I only dose 18-20gr per shot with a total of 40-45gr after the shot is pulled, depending on my mood.
Hah! That's exactly what I shoot for with my shots! I sometimes use my double, about 24 gr, usually to pull for two cups. Otherwise, it's the naked portafilter when I am making just one. (Quickmill Andreja prem.)
I was joking about steaming a body part.
Thems is good! My fav is the cappuccino, then macc, then a tie for third: espresso or Americano. I started making what I call an Italomera, which has less water than an American.
