How to Make Espresso Like a Barista

Espresso is the foundation of many beloved coffee drinks, from cappuccinos to lattes. While it may seem like a complicated process, making café-quality espresso at home is possible with the right technique and equipment. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to brew the perfect espresso, just like a professional barista.

1. What Is Espresso?

Espresso is a strong, concentrated coffee made by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee beans at high pressure. It has a rich aroma, bold taste, and a velvety crema (the golden foam on top). A properly brewed espresso has a balance of sweetness, acidity, and bitterness.

2. What You Need to Make Espresso

To make espresso like a barista, you’ll need:

✔ Espresso machine – Required for proper pressure extraction (9 bars of pressure).
✔ Burr grinder – Ensures an even, fine grind.
✔ Fresh coffee beans – Ideally 100% Arabica or an Arabica-Robusta blend.
✔ Tamper – Used to evenly press the coffee grounds.
✔ Scale – Helps measure the correct coffee dose.
✔ Filtered water – Improves the taste by avoiding impurities.

3. The Perfect Espresso Recipe

A single espresso shot typically uses 7-9g of coffee, while a double shot (most common) uses 18-20g. The ideal extraction time is 25-30 seconds, producing 30ml (1 oz) for a single shot or 60ml (2 oz) for a double shot.

4. Step-by-Step Guide to Making Espresso

Step 1: Choose Fresh, High-Quality Coffee Beans

• Espresso requires fresh, medium-dark or dark roast beans for rich flavor.
• Avoid pre-ground coffee—grind just before brewing for maximum freshness.

Step 2: Grind the Coffee Beans

• Espresso requires a fine grind, similar to powdered sugar.
• Use a burr grinder (not a blade grinder) for consistency.
• If the grind is too coarse, the espresso will be weak and watery.
• If the grind is too fine, the espresso will be over-extracted and bitter.

Step 3: Dose and Distribute the Grounds

• Weigh 18-20g of coffee for a double shot.
• Distribute the grounds evenly in the portafilter to avoid uneven extraction.

Step 4: Tamp the Coffee Grounds

• Use a flat tamper and apply 30 lbs (13.5 kg) of pressure.
• The surface should be level and compact.

Step 5: Pull the Espresso Shot

• Insert the portafilter into the espresso machine and start extraction.
• A perfect espresso shot should take 25-30 seconds.
• The final result should have a thick golden crema on top.

Step 6: Taste and Adjust

• If the espresso is too sour, the grind is too coarse, or the shot is too fast.
• If it is too bitter, the grind is too fine, or the shot is too slow.
• Adjust the grind size, dose, and tamping pressure as needed.

5. How to Make Espresso-Based Drinks

Once you’ve mastered espresso, you can use it to make various coffee drinks:

☕ Americano – Espresso + hot water.
☕ Cappuccino – Espresso + steamed milk + thick foam.
☕ Latte – Espresso + more steamed milk + light foam.
☕ Macchiato – Espresso + a dollop of milk foam.
☕ Mocha – Espresso + chocolate + steamed milk.

6. Common Espresso Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

❌ Using stale coffee beans → Use freshly roasted beans for better crema.
❌ Incorrect grind size → Too coarse? Weak and watery. Too fine? Bitter and over-extracted.
❌ Uneven tamping → Leads to channeling, where water flows unevenly.
❌ Not measuring coffee dose → Always use a scale for precision.
❌ Ignoring water quality → Use filtered water to prevent bad flavors.

Final Thoughts

Making espresso like a barista takes practice, precision, and quality ingredients. By following these steps and fine-tuning your technique, you can achieve rich, balanced, and flavorful espresso at home.

So, grab your espresso machine, experiment with different beans, and enjoy your perfect shot of coffee! ☕✨