Espresso has long captivated coffee lover around the world. It is actually a type of coffee prepared with a special espresso machine and made from finely ground coffee beans. Espresso is taken in ‘shots’ – a straight shot is about one to one and thee fourths ounces. Most espressos are topped with cream. Espresso is usually poured directly into the cup used to serve it.
Origins of the espresso
Espresso roots back to old Italy, as its name, Italian for ‘express,’ implies. The brewing involved in producing espresso has four steps. The first is ‘macinazione,’ which refers to the grinding process. The second is ‘miscela,’ which is the name for the produced coffee blend. The miscela then goes into the ‘macchina,’ or the espresso machine, and is finally produced and poured by the ‘mano’ that refers to the trained barista’s hand.
Espresso is an art
Coffee experts agree that the ability to prepare the perfect cup of espresso takes years to acquire. In fact, it is so complicated that it is considered an art form. Baristas are trained extensively, so that they can make superior espresso.
What is a perfect cup?
Espresso is characterized by exceptional sweetness, smoothness and thickness. The perfect cup also maintains a strong aroma and the character of freshly-ground coffee flavor. The perfect espresso leaves a superior aftertaste minutes after drinking.
The best espressos are made with only the finest coffee beans from Brazil, Panama, Mexico and Peru. These beans all have distinct bitterness, consistency and aftertaste. Usually, only trained baristas and active coffee lovers are able to balance espresso’s acidity, but there are a lot of self-help books and Internet tips available for those who want to try. The grinding process of espresso is complicated as well. If you over grind, you lose the flavor. The recommended grinding duration is very quick, usually around 25 to 28 seconds.
Espresso provides detailed information on Espresso, Espresso Machines, Espresso Equipment, Gourmet Espresso Coffee Gifts and more. Espresso is affiliated with Best Espresso Machines.
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How To Make Cuban Espresso So you want to know how to make Cuban espresso? Great! As you probably know, a Cuban espresso is an espresso that is sweetened with sugar as it is brewed (though other drinks have come be known as Cuban espresso).
The first thing you'll need to make a killer Cuban espresso is the right beans. Aficionados swear by Cuban-style brands such as Bustelo, Pilon and La LLave, though any very dark, Columbian-style roast will work just fine.
Before you try making a Cuban espresso, you should learn how to make a regular espresso first.
So, here's how you make a Cuban espresso:
1. Using an espresso machine, add the desired amount of finely ground coffee.
2. For every demitasse (half) cup of espresso you want to make, use one teaspoon of sugar. The key to Cuban espresso is that it be very sweet. The trick is to put the sugar into the glass carafe before you brew the coffee.
3. Brew the coffee just as you would an espresso. The coffee will pour over the sugar in the carafe as it brews. After it is finished filling the carafe, stir it briskly as there will still be a little undissolved sugar. Pour the coffee into several demitasse cups and enjoy.
As a note, for Cafe con Leche, simply use 2 parts Cuban Coffee to 1 part steamed milk.
Well, I hope that gets you started with making great espresso. However, to make outstanding espresso, you should learn a little more! Head on our to our website to get a free eBook titled How to Make Espresso So Good You'll Never Waste Money on Starbucks Again!
http://makingespresso.com/
Patrick Goldmanhttp://makingespresso.com/
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