A new espresso machine rarely makes a great cup on the first day. That is normal: espresso needs three numbers to line up, and finding them takes a few mornings.
The three numbers
- Dose: 18 g of ground coffee in the double basket.
- Yield: 36 g of espresso in the cup.
- Time: 25 to 30 seconds from pressing the button.
Change only the grind
Keep the dose and the yield fixed and adjust only the grinder. If the shot runs faster than 25 seconds and tastes sour, grind finer. If it drips for 40 seconds and tastes bitter, grind coarser. The Brevia Barista has 30 grind settings, and one step is usually enough.
Use fresh beans
Look for a roast date on the bag, not a best-before date. Beans are at their best between one and four weeks after roasting.
Milk
Fill the jug to just below the spout, keep the steam tip near the surface for the first three seconds and then sink it. Stop when the jug is too hot to hold.
Prefer filter coffee? A gooseneck kettle with temperature control is all the equipment a pour-over needs.
