Top 5 Coffee Tips for Better Espresso

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If you own a portafilter espresso machine and want to make better coffee, you’re in the right place. You may have noticed that coffee doesn’t always taste the same. Sometimes it’s amazing, other times it’s too sour, too bitter, or too watery. Don’t worry—that’s normal! A portafilter espresso machine offers incredible potential, but it also requires some attention. In this post, I’ll share five key factors that significantly impact the taste of your coffee. Follow these coffee tips for better espresso, and your brews will reach a whole new level!

1. Water Quality – The Foundation of Good Espresso

You can have the best coffee beans in the world, but if you use poor-quality water, the result will be mediocre. Remember, coffee is 98% water! Hard water full of minerals and chlorine flattens the taste of coffee and makes it unpleasant. The best solution is to use filtered water. You don’t necessarily need an expensive water filtration system—a simple filter jug will do the trick.

2. Freshly Roasted Coffee Beans Matter

The freshness and quality of coffee beans play a huge role. After roasting, coffee releases carbon dioxide, and its taste evolves over time. The ideal period for brewing espresso is between 7–21 days after roasting. If the beans are too fresh (e.g., only two days after roasting), the crema may be excessively airy, and the flavor chaotic. On the other hand, old coffee (over three months from roasting) loses its aromas and tastes flat. It’s best to buy coffee from local roasters who provide a roast date on the packaging. Avoid supermarket coffee, which often sits on shelves for months.

3. Grind Size – Precision Makes a Difference

Grinding coffee correctly is one of the most critical factors affecting extraction. If the coffee is ground too coarsely, water will pass through too quickly, resulting in watery and sour espresso. If it’s too fine, extraction will take too long, leading to a bitter, over-extracted shot. For a portafilter espresso machine, you need a fine grind—but not as fine as flour. The ideal texture resembles fine sand. Always grind coffee just before brewing using a good-quality burr grinder (not a blade grinder!). If your espresso tastes off, try adjusting the grind size.

4. Espresso Ratios and Extraction Time

Espresso brewing isn’t guesswork. The perfect ratio is 1:2—meaning if you put 18g of coffee in the portafilter, your cup should contain around 36g of liquid espresso. Timing is also crucial—espresso should brew in 25 to 30 seconds. If it brews too fast, the coffee will be weak and sour, so adjust the grind to be finer. If it brews too slowly, it will be overly bitter—so make the grind slightly coarser. Watch your espresso machine and fine-tune the parameters for the best results.

5. Clean Equipment – Better Coffee

Don’t worry—I won’t tell you that you need to replace your espresso machine with a pricier model. We’ve already established in other posts that you can brew satisfying coffee with almost anything. The key here is cleanliness. A dirty espresso machine equals bad coffee. Coffee oils, mineral buildup, and old coffee residue can completely ruin the taste of your espresso. Moreover, they can shorten the lifespan of your machine.

• Keep the portafilter and basket clean to prevent stale coffee buildup
• Regularly clean and descale the machine, especially if using hard water.
• Always flush the espresso machine with water before each use.

Proper maintenance makes a real difference in your espresso’s flavor!

Conclusion:

Making delicious espresso at home is quite simple, but it’s just as easy to get it wrong. By following these five coffee tips for better espresso, you can significantly improve the quality of your brew. It may seem like a lot initially, but once you start applying these tips, you’ll quickly notice the difference. Your espresso will be more balanced, aromatic, and simply delicious. Give it a try and see how small changes can make a big impact!

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