COFFEE BREW GUIDE

How to Brew Espresso at Home

Learn how to pull a rich, balanced shot of espresso at home. Follow our step-by-step guide to coffee dose, grind size, tamping, extraction time, and yield for a smooth, concentrated shot.

You'll need:

☕ Espresso machine

🧺 Portafilter

⚙️ Espresso grinder

⚖️ Digital scale

🫳 Tamper

⏱️ Timer

🥃 Espresso cup or shot glass

Adjustments

  • Fast shot → Grind finer.
  • Slow shot → Grind coarser.
  • Sour → Longer extraction.
  • Bitter → Shorter extraction.

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

Brewing Steps

Learn how to pull a rich, balanced shot of espresso at home. Follow our step-by-step guide to coffee dose, grind size, tamping, extraction time, and yield for a smooth, concentrated shot.

1. Grind fresh coffee.

2. Evenly distribute grounds in the portafilter.

3. Tamp firmly with consistent pressure.

4. Lock into the machine.

5. Start extraction immediately.

6. Aim for a 36g of yield in about 25–30 seconds.

Perfect for this brew

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A close-up of an espresso machine dispensing espresso into a small glass measuring cup on a scale, with a blurred shop background.

Flavor Profile

Espresso delivers a concentrated shot with rich sweetness, syrupy body, and balanced acidity. It also serves as the foundation for milk-based drinks like cappuccinos and lattes.

A pile of dark brown ground coffee next to three whole roasted coffee beans on a dark textured surface.

Recommended Grind

  • Ground Espresso – Ready to brew.
  • Whole Bean – Grind fresh before brewing for the best flavor.
A white ceramic cup of latte coffee with leaf art foam and cinnamon dusting, placed on a dark wooden table next to slices of bread and a small orange pumpkin.

Recommended Recipe

  • Coffee: 18g
  • Yield: 36g
  • Ratio: 1:2
  • Grind: Fine
  • Brew Time: 25–30 sec

Not sure what flavor to pick?

Take a Coffee Quiz

Or if you want to explore most of our flavors first, you can try our Sample Packs and discover your favorites before committing to a full-size bag.

Your Guide to a Better Coffee

The Best Way to Brew Coffee at Home

There's no single "best" brewing method, only the one that's right for your taste. No matter which brewer you choose, these five principles will help you make consistently great coffee.


1. Start with Freshly Roasted Coffee

Coffee tastes best within a few weeks of roasting. Store your beans in an airtight container away from heat, light, and moisture, and grind them just before brewing for maximum flavor.


2. Use the Right Grind Size for Your Brewing Method

Using the correct grind size is one of the biggest factors in making great coffee. Every brewing method requires a different grind size to extract the best flavor.

Recommended Grind for every Brewing method

Espresso → Fine
AeroPress → Medium-Fine
Pour Over → Medium
Drip Coffee → Medium
French Press → Coarse
Cold Brew → Extra Coarse

3. Measure Your Coffee

A consistent coffee-to-water ratio helps you brew balanced coffee every time.

A good starting point is:

1 gram of coffee for every 16 grams of water (1:16 ratio)

Example:
20g coffee → 320g water
25g coffee → 400g water
30g coffee → 480g water

This ratio is a common baseline before adjusting to taste. Adjust slightly depending on your taste preferences.

4. Use Filtered Water

Coffee is made up of almost entirely water, so clean, filtered water helps highlight the natural sweetness and complexity of your beans.

5. Brew Fresh Every Time

Grind only what you'll use and brew just before drinking. Freshly brewed coffee delivers the best aroma, sweetness, and complexity.

Troubleshooting Your Brew

Even the best beans can taste off if your brewing variables aren't dialed in. If your coffee tastes too sour, it's often a sign of under-extraction. If it tastes too bitter, it may be over-extracted. Small adjustments to your grind size, water temperature, brew time, or coffee-to-water ratio can make a dramatic difference in the final cup.

Want to learn how to identify and fix these common brewing problems?

👉 Read our guide: Bitter vs. Sour Coffee: What Your Brew Is Trying to Tell You