A common problem a lot of new espresso machine owners have is getting espresso with good crema. As with most espresso machines, the lack of crema is generally not related to the machine (unless you get a steam machine - good luck!) itself – there are several other factors that are usually to blame. The first one being the grind size – if it’s too large, you won’t get very good crema. You may not even get true espresso extraction. The right grind size depends on the type and age of the beans you are using. For optimal results it is strongly recommended that you get a high quality conical burr espresso grinder that allows you to adjust the grind size. Another common reason is that you haven’t tamped the coffee grounds with enough downward pressure. If the grounds are too loose, there won’t have enough back pressure to get enough bar of pressure built up to properly extract espresso. Coffee will come out watery and without crema. Coffee bean quality, type, and age also have an effect on crema. Cheap beans that are typically found in many grocery stores are typically grown in poor conditions and come from plants that are bred for production, not quality. It is recommended that you purchase single source, sustainable and shade grown beans for optimal results. Once you experience the different, there is no going back. Beans from specialty coffee shops, and online retailers like Kuva coffee or Mo Jo a Go Go are ideal. Bean type is also another factor. Certain varieties of coffee trees, and trees from certain regions in the world naturally produce beans that have less crema when brewed. There is nothing wrong with this, but these types of beans are better suited for brewing methods other than espresso. Coffee beans are most flavorful if used within a week of roasting. After that they start getting dry and stale. Even if they are tightly sealed, there is still a reduction in quality, flavor, and crema production the farther you get away from the roast date. In summary: • Use fresh coffee beans • Use specialty (if possible shade grown and Fair Trade) coffee • Experiment with different type of coffee beans • Get an espresso grinder and experiment with varying grind sizes • Try different tamping pressures – this will depend on bean type and grind size.
Posted on: Sun, 03 Aug 2014 03:42:24 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015