5. Turn on the machine and draw. One shot should take about 20-30 seconds. If it is shorter, than the grind is too coarse; longer, and the grind is too fine. Plan to make a few of them your first day and experiment with your own preferences.

6. Check the appearance. The espresso should have a dark, rich color with a coating of light brown crema on top. The taste should be strong, but rich and slightly sweet, if you have good quality beans. A bitter espresso is drawn too long; a watery one, too short.

That’s it. With a little practice, you can easily master these steps. A tip: remember to keep your espresso machine clean. I do a cleaning and back flush at least twice a month and usually every week. If your espresso starts to taste bitter, it’s possible you just need to clean the machine. After some time, you may want to invest in a few well-designed espresso cups. Thick, glass demitasses help keep espresso warm. Good luck and happy sipping!