Drinks 14. March 2025

Preparing espresso with the portafilter machine

Who doesn't know the perfectly prepared espresso from a vacation in Italy? A sip full of intensity, full-bodied taste and golden crema. I'll reveal the secret of espresso preparation in simple steps and make sure you have a feel-good vacation moment.

Preparation 5 minutes Preparation 5 minutes

Preparing espresso with the portafilter machine

7 g freshly ground espresso powder
Sweetener/sugar/agave syrup (optional)

Preparation

Grind the espresso beans very finely using a coffee grinder on the lowest grinding setting. At least 7 g of coffee powder is required for a single espresso, which corresponds to about a heaped tablespoon.
Tip: Support your local coffee roastery. You will get more intense and full-bodied coffee and taste a difference to mass-produced coffee.
Pour the coffee powder into the portafilter and distribute evenly with your finger. Press down the espresso powder with a tamper until a homogeneous surface is created.
Note: The water from the espresso machine always makes its way through the coffee grounds as quickly as possible in the portafilter. As soon as the espresso powder is not pressed into the sieve with sufficient pressure and evenly, it is pressed more densely in some places. This is why so-called “channeling” occurs. The espresso is not extracted evenly and cannot fully develop its aroma.
Insert the portafilter into the espresso machine and press the appropriate button. Enjoy.