Water; The Right Grind; Espresso Brewing Technique Brewing Temperature - KitchenAid 4KPES100 User Manual

Great Tasting Water
An often overlooked element of great espresso is the brew water. If you
don't enjoy the flavour of your tap water, don't use it to brew espresso
– use bottled, purified water instead. Since it doesn't take long for fresh
water to acquire a "flat" quality and taste, it's also a good idea to
change the water in the reservoir often and refill the boilers after a long
period of non-use.
Do not use mineral water or distilled water – they can damage the
espresso machine.
The Right Grind – and Grinder
Espresso demands a very fine, very consistent grind. Blade grinders
and inexpensive burr grinders usually fall short when it comes to
producing the grinds needed for outstanding espresso.
The best espresso requires a quality burr grinder, like the
PRO LINE™ Series Burr Coffee Mill. A good burr grinder will
maximize the flavour and aroma of espresso by producing an
extremely consistent grind with very little frictional heating.
30
TECHNIQUES
OF A
BARISTA
Espresso Brewing Technique
Brewing Temperature
Water temperature and temperature consistency have a direct impact
on the flavour of espresso. Great espresso comes from brewing at
an optimum temperature, ideally between 195° and 205° F (90.5°
and 96° C). Modern boilers and thermostats excel at producing and
maintaining the right temperature, but there is a complicating
factor that is a major concern for baristas: maintaining heat in the
brew group.
If water is pumped from the boiler at a near perfect 200° F (96° C),
but flows into a portafilter that's at room temperature, the water will
cool dramatically – and the actual brewing temperature will be far less
than what the best espresso requires. If the water temperature drops
below 195° F (90.5° C) the espresso might still exhibit good crema,
but it will acquire a distinctly bitter or sour note.
To Insure Proper Brewing Temperature:
• Always attach the portafilter (with filter basket) to the brew head
when the espresso machine is heating. This warms the filter.
• Always wait until the boilers are fully heated before brewing –
at least 6 minutes.
• Dose and tamp your coffee quickly, and brew immediately.
This prevents the portafilter from cooling significantly.