5 Ways to Make Espresso at Home

Written By Katerina Diaz

Espresso, the rich and intense coffee that fuels many of our mornings, doesn't always have to be bought from a café. If you're wondering how to make this delightful brew in the comfort of your home, here are five tried-and-true methods that'll have you sipping on homemade espresso drinks in no time.

1. Instant Espresso

The quickest route to espresso! All you need is:

  • For a single shot:1/2-1 tbsp (1 packet) instant espresso + 1-2 ounces of hot/warm water

  • For a double shot: 1-2 tbsp (2 packets) instant espresso + 2-3 ounces of warm/hot water

  • For a triple shot: 1.5-2.5 tbsp (3 packets) instant espresso + 3-4 ounces of warm/hot water

  • For a quad shot: 2-3 tbsp (4 packets) instant espresso + 4-5 ounces of warm/hot water

Mix the instant espresso powder with hot water until fully dissolved. This easy and affordable method is perfect for making various espresso-based drinks like lattes, macchiatos, and more.

My favorite instant espresso options:

See this video HERE for a step by step tutorial for how to use instant espresso to make espresso shots.

2. Nespresso Machine + Espresso Pods

Got a Nespresso machine at home? Ensure you're using espresso pods, not the regular coffee pods, for that authentic espresso taste.

Simply place the espresso pod inside the machine, and begin brewing. For a single shot of espresso, use a single shot pod. For a double shot of espresso, use two single espresso pods, or use one double shot espresso pod.

Personally, I love my Nespresso VertuoPlus Machine and these are my favorite espresso pods:

3. Moka Pot

A classic stovetop device that brews espresso effortlessly. For this method, you will need:

How to make espresso:

  1. Fill the Moka pot base with water until just below the safety valve.

  2. Add 16-18 grams of coffee grounds to the filter funnel.

  3. Assemble and heat on a stove.Tighten the top back onto the base, and place entire the Moka pot onto the stove/burner over medium heat. The espresso will start brewing upwards and falling into the inside chamber.Once it starts bubbling, remove from heat and pour into a cup.

This affordable method is perfect for espresso enthusiasts aiming for a traditional brew.

View my Moka pot espresso step-by step video tutorial HERE.

4. Aeropress

Think of an Aeropress as a manual espresso maker. Here's what you'll need:

How to make espresso:

  1. Weigh out 19 grams of beans and grind to a fine powder.

  2. Flip the aeropress upside down - place the plunger piece down and press the chamber piece down about halfway.

  3. Add coffee grounds and 90 grams of hot water to the Aeropress. Give the grounds a stir, then screw on the filter, add a cup/mug to the top and gently flip the entire aeropress over.

  4. Give the entire Aeropress and mug a swirl, then let it brew for 60-90 seconds.

  5. Plunge slowly until you hear a hissing sound, and voila! Espresso ready to use in your favorite drinks.

View my Aeropress espresso step-by step video tutorial HERE.

5. Espresso Machine

For those looking to invest and get the most authentic espresso experience, this method will give you amazing, coffee shop level espresso at home. See my list of espresso machine recommendations HERE.

How to make espresso:

  1. Add water to water reservoir and turn on the machine.

  2. Weigh out 18 grams of beans on your coffee scale then add the beans to the hopper.

  3. Double check you’re using the correct basket inside your portafilter - since I’m grinding beans fresh, I need to use the single wall double shot basket.

  4. Screw dosing funnel onto portafilter and grind the beans until you hear the screeching sound (indicating there’s no beans left in the hopper). You could also program your machine to give you a set amount of grounds each time. See my video HERE on how to program your machine to do this.

  5. Set portafilter down flat on the counter, and use an espresso stirrer to stir the grounds. Make sure you get the edges and bottom of the portafilter, and break up any clumps/air pockets in the grounds.

  6. Give the portafilter a lil love tap, and remove the dosing funnel.

  7. Use a distributor tool to distribute the grounds evenly, then flip the tool over to tamp the grounds. The grounds should be compact enough for water to flow through, too tight and you’ll build up too much pressure.

  8. Once evenly tamped, lock portafilter into the machine, and press the DOUBLE shot button.

View my step-by step video tutorial HERE.

Things to watch for:

  • Espresso comes out both spouts at the same time (if not, you most likely have air pockets/uneven distribution and you need to distribute/stir/tamp better). If you’re using a bottomless portafilter with no spouts, check that the espresso is coming out in a single stream. You shouldn’t have two streams or any dripping from other areas.

  • Pressure gauge should be within espresso range (if not, adjust grind size or amount of beans). If pressure is below espresso range, grind finer. If pressure is above espresso range, grind coarser.

  • Extraction time should be 20-30 seconds (if not, adjust grind size), use a coffee scale with a timer. If extraction time is below 20 seconds, grind finer. If extraction time is longer than 30 seconds, grind coarser.

For a single shot, the process is the exact same, BUT you need to use the single wall SINGLE SHOT basket, and use 9 grams instead of 18, then make sure you press the SINGLE SHOT button, not the double shot button.

Conclusion:

With these five methods at your disposal, you have no excuse to not make coffee at home. Whether you prefer the convenience of instant or the authenticity of a machine, there's a method here for every coffee lover. Happy brewing!

xx Your Barista Homie Kat

This blog post contains affiliate links, which means I make commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through the link(s).

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