Capresso 119 Instructions Manual page 8

6. Preparing Quality Espresso/Cappuccino at Home
6a. Selecting the Type and Grind of Coffee
The Coffee
For best results, the coffee should be as fresh as possible. Any type of coffee
roast can be prepared as espresso, even though dark roasts are the most common
used for brewing espresso. Whole coffee beans are recommended to be ground
just before use in a burr grinder. Whole coffee beans stored in an airtight
container will keep up to 1 week before they begin to lose their flavor.
The Grind
This is an important step in the espresso making process and takes practice.
The coffee must be finely ground and have uniform consistency.
• The correct grind should look like salt.
• If the grind is too fine, the water will not flow through the coffee and cause
too much pressure to build up in the machine. These grinds look like powder
and feel like flour when rubbed between fingers.
• If the grind is too coarse, the water flows through the coffee too quickly,
preventing a full-flavored extraction.
Tip! Be sure to use a quality burr grinder for uniform consistency. Blade coffee
grinders are not recommended for espresso brewing because the grind is
not as consistent.
• If you are experiencing problems with taste (bitter, sour, under extracted, etc.)
adjust the grind size of the coffee and/or switch the brand or roast of whole
bean coffee.
6b. Preparing the Machine for Brewing
1. Make sure the main power switch is off "0" and the Brewing Control Knob
and Steam Control Knob are in the OFF position.
2. Fill the water tank with fresh, cold water. You may either use a pitcher to fill
up the tank or remove the tank from the unit and then fill it up under the
faucet. If you have removed it from the unit to fill up with water, please make
sure to put it back tightly in its place. Fill the water tank with the desired
amount of water ensuring it ranges within the MIN and MAX fill markings on
the tank. Never use warm or hot water to fill the water tank.
3. Place the water tank lid back onto the tank.
4. Place the drip tray (Fig 1, g) in the unit. Make sure the removable cup platform
(Fig. 1, f) is placed on top of the drip tray.
6c. Filling and Inserting the Portafilter
1. Select from the two filters that come with your machine depending on the
amount of cups you wish to prepare (1 or 2 cups).
2. Place the sieve in the portafilter and ensure it sits level (Fig. 2)
3. Fill the selected filter with fresh, finely ground coffee. Clean any excess coffee
from the rim of the filter holder. This will assure proper fit under the brew head.
4. Tamp or compress coffee using the flat side of the coffee scoop/tamper
(Fig. 1, q). Do not overfill the filter. This might cause clogging or overflow.
5. Position portafilter underneath the brew head and align the portafilter to the
"Unlock icon" while pushing the portafilter up. Turn the portafilter firmly to
the right towards the "Lock icon" until it feels tight.
8.