Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Espresso Terminology
In order to understand how to make espresso, you must first know what all the terms mean. So here are some of the most common:
BASKET: This is the metal dish that is placed in the porta filter. It holds the coffee in order for the espresso to be extracted from it.
GOD SHOT: This is the perfect shot of espresso. It can't get any better than this.
GRIND: This is the coursness of the coffee. Coffee ground for espresso is about the same as table salt.
GRINDER: The machine used to grind the roasted coffee beans. Burr grinders are the best. They provide the most consistent grind.
KNOCK BOX: This is the container into which the spent puck is knocked out of the basket.
PORTA FILTER: This is the part of the espresso machine in which the basket fits. The porta filter has a handle on it as well as a single/double spout. It also comes in what is called a bottomless porta filter. This version has as the name suggests, no bottom to it. You can readily see the bottom of the basket once the porta filter is locked into the espresso machine. This version allows you to actually see the espresso being extracted, and allows you to fine tune your espresso making methods. There is more on this further in the site, as well as hints on making your own bottomless porta filter.
PUCK: This is the term given to the compressed coffee in the basket.
SHOWER SCREEN: This is the part of the espresso machine that sits above the porta filter. It is through this, that the hot water passes in order to get to the coffee in the basket. Its main purpose is to make sure that the hot water is evenly distributed over the coffe in the basket.
TAMPER: This is the implement used to compress the coffee in the basket. It is usually made from various types of metal, but can also be made from plastic, wood etc. Metal is perhaps the most popular as it enables the most even compression of the puck.
THERMO-BLOCK:This is what is used to heat the water in a thermo-block espresso machine. The block is made of metal which is heated. Cold water is passed through a channel in the block which heats up the water. This makes heating water very quick compared to a boiler, but it's much harder to get a consistent temperature for the water unlike the boiler.
BASKET: This is the metal dish that is placed in the porta filter. It holds the coffee in order for the espresso to be extracted from it.
GOD SHOT: This is the perfect shot of espresso. It can't get any better than this.
GRIND: This is the coursness of the coffee. Coffee ground for espresso is about the same as table salt.
GRINDER: The machine used to grind the roasted coffee beans. Burr grinders are the best. They provide the most consistent grind.
KNOCK BOX: This is the container into which the spent puck is knocked out of the basket.
PORTA FILTER: This is the part of the espresso machine in which the basket fits. The porta filter has a handle on it as well as a single/double spout. It also comes in what is called a bottomless porta filter. This version has as the name suggests, no bottom to it. You can readily see the bottom of the basket once the porta filter is locked into the espresso machine. This version allows you to actually see the espresso being extracted, and allows you to fine tune your espresso making methods. There is more on this further in the site, as well as hints on making your own bottomless porta filter.
PUCK: This is the term given to the compressed coffee in the basket.
SHOWER SCREEN: This is the part of the espresso machine that sits above the porta filter. It is through this, that the hot water passes in order to get to the coffee in the basket. Its main purpose is to make sure that the hot water is evenly distributed over the coffe in the basket.
TAMPER: This is the implement used to compress the coffee in the basket. It is usually made from various types of metal, but can also be made from plastic, wood etc. Metal is perhaps the most popular as it enables the most even compression of the puck.
THERMO-BLOCK:This is what is used to heat the water in a thermo-block espresso machine. The block is made of metal which is heated. Cold water is passed through a channel in the block which heats up the water. This makes heating water very quick compared to a boiler, but it's much harder to get a consistent temperature for the water unlike the boiler.
Starting Basics of Espresso Making
This section is for the beginner, so if you don't fit into this category, then look further down the blog, as you will find the more advanced techniques there.
Don't think you need to spend $1000 first off in order to make good espresso. You can make quite nice espresso drinks from a machine that cost as little as $120. But to make consistently great espresso, an $800+ machine is probably what you will eventually need.
Espresso does take longer to make than a cup of instant. But then it also takes much longer to make a fine wine than it does to make a cup of cordial. Espresso to my mind as far as taste goes, is a 3 dimensional drink whereas instant is very 1 dimensional. Espresso can take on so many different tastes and nuances. Making espresso is virtually an art form and all good art takes time. If you want some figures: warming a boiler based machine can take upwards of 30 minutes, though there are ways around this that can shorten it to about 3 minutes. Thermo block machines are much quicker as they don't have a reserve of water to heat up. Then grinding, tamping, extracting and preparing the milk can mean another 10 minutes or so. Of course these times will vary depending on if you grind your own beans (you should) and how proficient you are with your espresso techniques. It is possible to make an espresso from go to woe in about 15 minutes.
There is a bit of cleaning up afterwards for as far as espresso making goes, cleanliness is next to god shotliness. But this only takes a few minutes at most.
Yes it is possible to roast your own green beans and not only is it much cheaper, but it really isn't all that hard. You can even roast it in a popcorn maker (details later in the blog).
If you're going to buy an espresso machine, then do yourself a favor and get a grinder as well. It really does make a big difference. Not only does the coffee stay fresher longer, but you also can alter the grind in order to get that perfect extraction. You can get your coffee pre-ground of course and that might be a good idea if you are only toying with the idea of taking up espresso making. But usually you spend at least half as much on a grinder as you do on the espresso machine. The better the grinder, the more consistent the grind and the better the pour.
Don't think you need to spend $1000 first off in order to make good espresso. You can make quite nice espresso drinks from a machine that cost as little as $120. But to make consistently great espresso, an $800+ machine is probably what you will eventually need.
Espresso does take longer to make than a cup of instant. But then it also takes much longer to make a fine wine than it does to make a cup of cordial. Espresso to my mind as far as taste goes, is a 3 dimensional drink whereas instant is very 1 dimensional. Espresso can take on so many different tastes and nuances. Making espresso is virtually an art form and all good art takes time. If you want some figures: warming a boiler based machine can take upwards of 30 minutes, though there are ways around this that can shorten it to about 3 minutes. Thermo block machines are much quicker as they don't have a reserve of water to heat up. Then grinding, tamping, extracting and preparing the milk can mean another 10 minutes or so. Of course these times will vary depending on if you grind your own beans (you should) and how proficient you are with your espresso techniques. It is possible to make an espresso from go to woe in about 15 minutes.
There is a bit of cleaning up afterwards for as far as espresso making goes, cleanliness is next to god shotliness. But this only takes a few minutes at most.
Yes it is possible to roast your own green beans and not only is it much cheaper, but it really isn't all that hard. You can even roast it in a popcorn maker (details later in the blog).
If you're going to buy an espresso machine, then do yourself a favor and get a grinder as well. It really does make a big difference. Not only does the coffee stay fresher longer, but you also can alter the grind in order to get that perfect extraction. You can get your coffee pre-ground of course and that might be a good idea if you are only toying with the idea of taking up espresso making. But usually you spend at least half as much on a grinder as you do on the espresso machine. The better the grinder, the more consistent the grind and the better the pour.
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