More espresso drinks
The best part about making espresso at home? You can use it to make all the best espresso drinks! Here are some of the top drinks to try: What’s the best way to make espresso? Can you make espresso without a machine? After years of testing, here are the best ways we’ve found to make espresso, ranked in order of preference with pros and cons to each. How to make espresso at home? If you want top quality espresso, a countertop espresso machine is where it’s at. The flavor is better than any method you’ll find! But there are a few other methods that can approximate a great espresso. Here’s an overview of the top espresso methods, then scroll down to read more about each method: A countertop espresso machine makes the best tasting espresso, bar none. It tastes even as good as a coffeeshop, with a rich layer of crema. This type of machine is similar to what you’d see a barista use: it sits on the countertop and grinds the coffee. Many espresso makers also have a steaming wand: it makes the best steamed milk for lattes and cappuccinos. Pros and cons: Countertop espresso machines are the priciest option, starting about $300 to several thousand dollars. But if you’re a purist, it’s worth it for the high quality. This is the best choice for a coffee connoisseur who wants a premium in-home espresso experience. Product recommendation: Here’s the Breville espresso machine we use: it works wonderfully and makes the best espresso we’ve had outside of Italy. It’s even better than many coffeeshops, in our opinion! It’s pricey, but worth it for coffee nerds. Accessories: Make sure to get a knock box to use with your espresso machine. It’s helpful for tamping and discarding the used coffee grounds.
A portable espresso maker is the best way to make espresso without a machine. This small device lets you manually push the water through the coffee into the cup. It’s small, portable, and easy to use for traveling or to take to an office. Pros and cons: The portable espresso maker makes slightly less quality espresso than the espresso machine: the flavor isn’t quite as tasty and the crema not as rich and abundant. However, the flavor is surprisingly decent and at $65, it’s a steal! It’s also small and easy to hide away in cabinets or take traveling. Product recommendation: We use this portable espresso maker and it works great. How to do it: Follow the package instructions for how to use this device.
A French press is a device for brewing coffee in a small pitcher. It’s most often used for brewed coffee, but it works for espresso too. Pros and cons: The French press can’t achieve a foamy crema like the first two espresso making methods and you will end up with some sediment in your cup. But for a brewed coffee method, it gets pretty close to the flavor of a true espresso. It’s great for making espresso for coffee drinks or an affogato. Most French presses cost about $35 to $40, and you can use them for brewed coffee as well. Product recommendation: This Bodum French press is a high quality option. How to do it: Go to How to Make French Press Espresso.
The Moka Pot is a stovetop method for making strong coffee by forcing steam through coffee grounds. It makes a deliciously rich pot of coffee, and is popular in Europe and the US. Pros and cons: The flavor you can achieve with a Moka Pot is fantastic. But it’s actually very strong dark roast coffee, not technically espresso (it doesn’t achieve a crema and lacks some of the richness in flavor). It makes a cup that is 5 ounces, whereas a single espresso shot is 1 ounce and a double shot is 2 ounces. But it works well as an option for espresso drinks! At $35 for one pot, it’s a steal. Product recommendation: Here’s the 6 cup Moka Pot we use. How to do it: Go to How to Use a Moka Pot.
An Aeropress is a plastic cylinder used to make a single cup of coffee. It’s portable, cheap and easy to clean, making it an accessible way to make coffee. Pros and cons: The Aeropress is very cheap at $30. But this method makes major sacrifices on flavor. Aeropress espresso tastes more bitter and flat than other methods, and has no signature crema. Only use this method if it’s your last resort. Product recommendation: Here’s the 1 to 3 cup Aeropress we use. How to do it: Go to How to Make Aeropress Espresso.
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Go for our favorite, the Americano (espresso with water) Make a classic Latte, Cappuccino or Cafe con Leche Grab a creamy Cortado, Gibraltar, Breve or Espresso Con Panna Go foamy with a Macchiato Opt for a Flat White Add chocolate for a rich and creamy Mocha Make a cold Iced Latte, Iced Espresso, Iced Mocha, Iced White Chocolate Mocha or Iced Cappuccino
