The Science Behind Crafting a Perfect Espresso. Christopher Hendon was baffled that despite no alterations in his recipe, no two espressos ever tasted the same. The "Golden Rule" of espresso says a shot should extract in 20 - 30 seconds. Extraction is quite more accessible and faster when the temperature is high. If any one of these are off, your shots will lose a lot of flavor and you won’t enjoy your end espresso drink. Pulling the perfect espresso requires loads of practice, patience and precision. An espresso must offer a balanced, harmonious taste with no single flavor prevailing over the others, unless there are specific preferences. Yes, the perfect espresso. So, what makes the perfect espresso? For double espresso, it was 81-83 beans or approximately 15-18 grams. Extraction from a quality espresso machine should take between 15 and 30 seconds, though this may vary from one machine to another. Over-extraction, under-extraction, and the coarseness of your grind can all affect crema. This is why learning to make the perfect espresso 101 takes time. So here are some handy step by steps instructions to get you there. Now that we’ve mastered the art of pulling shots, we don’t run to the coffee shop every time we have an espresso craving, which saves us lots of money. If your crema "drops" (goes away) after less than one minute, then the extraction was too fast or the coffee roast too light. Step 3: Extraction. (Gaggia invented the spring-lever machine in 1947 and Faema introduced a pump to push the water through in 1961.) Coffee savor (its light, natural sweetness) is a desirable component of a well-made espresso (perfect roasting, grinding and extraction). The 5 most important factors to pulling perfect espresso shots are: Water Pressure, Extraction Time, Water Temperature, Grind Consistency, and Tamping. Although the espresso-maker was invented by the French, Francesco Illy refined it in 1935, adding compressed pressure to the process, which shortened the extraction time and reduced the bitterness in the finished espresso. In conversation with one Barista at a speciality coffee shop, they would produce a single shot using between 41-43 coffee beans. The best part of espresso 101 -- seeing the results of all your careful preparation. For perfect espresso shots, all … ... “The other option is to go to the maximum extraction yield and use a little less water,” Hendon says. Knowing how to make the perfect espresso is both an immense blessing and a curse! The acclaimed chemist who has studied the art of coffee extraction was set on finding out once and for all how he could craft — and master — the perfect espresso. But we drink a lot more espresso than we used to, which isn’t the best for our health! 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