PAGECOFFEEHEADERMAKING..... TIPS & PREPARATION
PRE-HEATING
Heating your cup or glass
A warm cup will help maintain the coffee’s optimal temperature.
Heating the portafilter and filter basket
A cold portafilter and filter basket can reduce the extraction temperature enough to significantly affect the quality of your espresso. Always ensure the portafilter and filter basket are
NOTE
Always wipe the portafilter and filter basket dry before dosing with ground coffee as moisture can encourage ‘channeling’ where water
Dual Wall Filter Baskets
Use Dual Wall filter baskets if using
Dual Wall filter baskets regulate the pressure and help to optimize the extraction regardless of the grind, dose, tamp pressure or freshness.
NOTE
Regardless of whether you use Single Wall or Dual Wall filter baskets, use the 1 cup basket when brewing a single cup and the 2 cup basket when brewing two cups or a stronger single cup or mug.
SELECTING A FILTER BASKET
Single Wall Filter Baskets
Use Single Wall filter baskets if grinding fresh whole coffee beans.
Single Wall filter baskets allow you to experiment with grind, dose and tamp to create a more balanced espresso.
THE GRIND
If grinding coffee beans, the grind size should be fine but not too fine. The grind size will affect the rate at which the water flows through the ground coffee in the filter basket and the taste of the espresso.
If the grind is too fine (looks like powder and feels like flour when rubbed between fingers), the water will not flow through the coffee even when under pressure. The resulting espresso will be
OVER EXTRACTED, dark in color and bitter in flavor.
If the grind is too coarse the water will flow through the ground coffee in the filter basket too quickly. The resulting espresso will be UNDER EXTRACTED and lacking in color and flavor.
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