How to Make Espresso

Making espresso is a profession for some and an obsession for others. For the rest of us there is the Saeco super-automatic espresso makers that take the complications away and allow one to have a delicious espresso at home. These machines will make excellent espresso with just a few adjustments to ensure the grind and water extraction suits your tastes. These machines can also make excellent "Americanos" for those who want a bigger, less dense, coffee, American-style.

The basic variables on the machines are grind and amount of water that is used in the brewing cycle. Different coffees might require different grinds to get the best cup. As always, good water and fine coffee are key to getting a good cup of espresso.

For the 5% who want to be home baristas we recommend www.coffeegeek.com or www.home-barista.com where there is copious material on equipment and techniques.