Can someone please explain to me how to use an espresso machine?

Answer 1

Good espresso starts with good coffee beans. If the beans are grown in the right climate and harvested with care it's a good start. Then, they must be roasted depending on the flavor (less roasting equals a lighter & sweeter taste and darker roasting equals a smokier flavor). Espresso is a dark, full roast. The fresher the beans are the better. To prepare the espresso, the beans must be ground very fine, and packed into the basket. Then the basket is inserted into the machine and the espresso is brewed. The amount of water added depends on the amount of shots desired. When the shot has been brewed there should be a thick caramel colored foam on top of the darker liquid. Enjoy!

Answer 2

Espresso machines generally require that an amount of coffee be tamped into the scooped and placed into the machine. Water is added to the machine before the coffee is placed. You then place the shot glasses on the platform and turn on the machine to pull the shots. Different machines may have specific bells and whistles, including the grinding, measuring and tamping of the coffee. The best thing is to track down an user's guide for the machine. You can likely download the manual online or order from the manufacturer.