A perfect way to get yourself going is by starting your day with a cup of coffee. If you are reading this article, you probably own a Breville espresso machine sitting pretty in your kitchen. And if this is the case, be proud because you have truly incredible equipment. If you are looking for a perfect way to make espresso at home, then this amazing piece of equipment is a great option. But how do you utilize it? That’s exactly what this article is about.
To make an espresso using a Breville espresso machine, you will need either pre-ground coffee or ground your whole coffee beans fresh and pack the powder tightly into the portafilter. After that, you want to adjust the setting of the machine to achieve the right temperature and pressure. Lastly, use a steady and quick motion to tamp the coffee down and extract your espresso shot.
Continue reading this blog to learn more on how to use the Breville espresso machine. We have provided step-by-step instructions on how to make your perfect cup of espresso.
The Breville Espresso Machine
Breville is a family company that has been making appliances since 1932. This is why it is no surprise that their coffee machines are one of the best on the market. This brand is committed to innovation. They often release new designs and machines, keeping them at the forefront of the industry. Their dedication to innovation and quality has helped the brand become of the best brands in the world.
This dedication to quality and innovation has helped Breville become one of the most popular brands in the world. Breville has been manufacturing great espresso machines for decades. If you take your coffee seriously, you should have one of these machines sitting on your kitchen countertop.
[amazon box=”B00J19PT2K” template=”horizontal”]The User’s Manual
After unboxing your Breville machine, you want to have a look at the Breville espresso machine manual. This might not be your first instinct, as you are eager to brew your first cup of espresso. You want to do this because, in no time, you will most likely have a question about its usage. So you might want to get well-informed from the start.
In addition, do not feel overwhelmed by all the technical jargon you’ll find in the manual. While it might sound a tad scary at first, just know that most things are there for your convenience and safety. And after making your first drink, it should seem straightforward and easy.
[amazon box=”B08133HX34″ template=”horizontal”]Your First Espresso
After taking a look at the user’s manual, you are now ready to brew your cup of espresso. Here, we shall go through the process one after the other:
- First, ensure that your machine is well-calibrated and properly set up. This involves filling it with water and checking the levels of coffee and water. Ensure that they tally with the markings on the machine. If you are confused about how to go about this, refer to your user’s manual for instructions.
- Once everything is properly set up, it is now time to grind some coffee beans. Although we recommend that you grind them yourself for the best cup of espresso possible, you can also use pre-ground coffee – depending on which is available. The ground shouldn’t be too fine or coarse – it should be medium-fine.
- After grounding your coffee beans, you want to test them by putting a small amount in a portafilter and tamp it down. With a tamping tool, give it a good tap to pack the coffee in. You can do this with your hand in the absence of a tamping tool.
- Lastly, it is time to brew. You want to place the portafilter into your Breville espresso machine and lock it in place. Turn on your machine and wait for the water to heat up. Once the water gets hot, it will start to flow through the coffee and into your cup. As soon as the desired amount of espresso has been brewed, you can stop the brewing process. This should take between twenty-five to thirty seconds.
NB
* You want to run two to three blind shots before pulling your first espresso.
* Use the custom two cups program when dialing in espresso. You can find this under the menu button.
* Before you pull a shot, you want to place your zeroed-out scale with a cup on a drip tray under the portafilter.
What is a Blind Shot?
A blind shot is the act of rinsing the portafilter and group head with hot water to set the optimal temperature of all the components that will come in contact with the coffee. This will prevent an unpleasant sour taste. It will also ensure the optimum temperature of the espresso.
You can pull a blind shot by pressing one or two cup buttons with an inserted portafilter and repeating at least twice. When running blind shots, you can keep your cups under the portafilter, and the water will also preheat.
However, remember to pour out the water and dry the cups before pulling espresso.
[amazon box=”B078WMLXXG” template=”horizontal”]Milking Time
The frothing/steaming process is in two phases:
1. The First Phase – Creating Foam
This process is to inject air bubbles into the milk – this creates thick foam. The process is done with the tip of the steam wand, which should be in contact with the surface of the milk, which would create an intermittent slurping sound.
The steam pressure from the wand pulls the surrounding air into the milk, creating huge bubbles. Richness of your milk depends on the number of bubbles you’ll blow into the milk.
This process takes about twenty to twenty-five seconds – approximately half of the total steaming time.
2. The Second Phase – Texturing Milk
In this phase, the swirling and steam motion of the milk is used as a whisk. This breaks down the huge bubbles that you made in the first phase into invisible pieces. This will result in a thickened foam with a very soft, delicate, and silky smooth texture.
So, this phase should take another twenty to twenty-five seconds – approximately has the total steaming time.
Steps to Proper Milk Frothing
We’ve broken the process of frothing milk into little steps:
- Purge your steam wand shortly until steam starts to come out.
- Lift the steam wand and tilt it approximately forty-five degrees away from your Breville espresso machine.
- Put the steam wand into the spout of the milk jug while the steam wand is dipped below the milk surface. The optimum position of the tip for steaming is either three or nine o’clock. You also want to ensure that you hold the jug at a slight angle.
- Turn on the steam button to start frothing. While keeping the appropriate steaming position, faintly lower the jug. Do this so the tip of the steam is in contact with the surface of the milk. This would create a slurping sound. This would begin to create foam by blowing bubbles into the milk and spinning vortex – crucial in the next step.
- It’s now time to texture the milk. After creating a sufficient volume of foam for your coffee, slowly raise the jug back up to allow the tip of the steam wand to submerge under the milk surface. Keep up with stretching the milk until the jug begins to get hot to touch – approximately sixty degrees Celsius.
- Turn the steam dial back to the vertical position once the desired temperature has been achieved.
- Keep the milk jug aside.
- With a damp cloth, clean the steam wand. After that, position it over the drip tray and purge it to clean the inside of the wand briefly.
- If you notice any bubbles bigger in size than the rest, tap the milk jug.
- Give the milk a swirl with the milk jug. This will cause the foam and milk to mix together. At this point, it should have a gloss and consistency of white paint.
Getting Your Espresso Just Right
Although your Breville espresso machine will handle most of the work, you will most likely not have a good result if you do not do these things first:
1. Grind the coffee beans yourself
The freshest espresso is made from fresh whole coffee beans that have been grounded shortly before brewing. Pre-ground coffee is not recommended for espressos as it can quickly lose its flavor.
2. Use the right amount of coffee
The proper ratio of water to coffee is essential for getting the best espresso shot. For one espresso shot, use seven grams of coffee – approximately two teaspoons.
3. Fill the portafilter correctly
The portafilter is the handle of your Breville espresso machine that holds the ground coffee. Ensure that you always fill this part with tamped coffee, leaving one-fourth-inch of space between the rim of the filter basket and the top of the ground.
4. Use good water
For the best result, we recommend you use bottled or filter water. However, the minerals in tap water will not affect your brewed coffee as much. But if you do not have access to either bottled or filtered water, just allow your tap run for about a minute before using it. This is to ensure that it isn’t too hot or cold when you brew your espresso.
5. Pull a clean shot
One of the quickest ways to ruin your espresso is by pulling a dirty shot, and getting a good extraction is crucial to making the best espresso. This means using coffee that isn’t correctly tampered with, coffee that is too finely ground, or using insufficient coffee. Take these details seriously, and your shot will turn out great.
6. Serve immediately
You want to serve your espresso immediately after brewing as it is best enjoyed fresh. Breville espresso machines are multipurpose and can handle many types of milk, including almond milk, soymilk, cow’s milk, and more. Regardless of how you enjoy your coffee – with or with milk – you can find the appropriate Breville machine to meet your coffee needs.
Frequently Asked Questions on Breville Espresso Machine
Below are the most asked questions on Breville and their answers:
1. Is Breville espresso machine Durable?
Breville Espresso machine is durable and makes great-tasting coffee. They are easy to use. And in this guide, we shall show you how to use this machine so that you can start to enjoy your coffee routine from the comfort of your home. We have also provided tricks and tips to take your coffee-making skills to a whole new level.
2. How do you use Breville Barista Express for the first time?
To use this machine for the first time, fill the water tank and insert the portafilter. Turn on the machine and wait for it to heat it. Lastly, adjust the settings to get your desired espresso.
If you are still confused about using your Breville espresso machine, contact customer service or consult your user’s manual. They will help you troubleshoot and ensure that you correctly utilize your machine.
3. How do you make coffee in a Breville espresso machine?
To make coffee in your Breville espresso machine, grind your fresh whole coffee beans or use a pre-ground coffee. You want to use a fine grind setting as you are making espresso. However, ensure that it isn’t too fine or coarse.
After that, you want to heat some water to the right temperature. Lastly, pour the water into the reservoir and insert the portafilter.
Conclusion
Breville has been a reputable brand in the kitchen for many decades. And now they have taken their expertise and experience to revolutionize espresso drinks with the line of espresso machines. With the Breville espresso machine and the right tips, you can treat yourself to coffee the way you like it. At Tasty Coffee Maker, we provide helpful tips and tricks that would take your coffee game to a whole new level. We hope today’s blog will help you make the most of your Breville espresso machine.
