Question 1

What Is Crema?

Accepted Answer

Crema is a tan or reddish-brown froth or foam that sits on top of an espresso shot. It's sometimes called the ?Guinness effect? because the foam vaguely resembles the head on a good pour of Guinness. It's the same idea with espresso crema; if you pulled the espresso right, you'd get that foamy layer on top of your drink.

Question 2

Why Is Crema Important?

Accepted Answer

Crema is generally regarded as important because it's only possible to have the right combination of coffee beans, roast, grind, tamp, water temperature, and water pressure. This makes it tricky to achieve, but it's also often an indicator that you pulled a great shot of espresso.

Question 3

What If I Have No Crema?

Accepted Answer

If you (or your barista!) have no crema and you find your espresso tasty, you're always welcome to continue making things the way you already are! However, if you're reading this article, you may want to perfect your espresso shot for someone else or to know that you can make the perfect-looking espresso shot on demand.

Question 4

What If I Have Very Little Crema?

Accepted Answer

If you don't have much crema, but you do have some, first start by checking the steps above. Then, check on your water temperature and pressure settings. If these are close but not quite right, then that could throw off your espresso shot just a bit. Your water temperature should be around 200 degrees Fahrenheit, and your portafilter shouldn't be cold enough to affect this greatly. Your pressure should be set at 9 to 10 bars, but this can vary, so check the instructions for your particular espresso machine.

Question 5

Is There Such Thing as Too Much Crema?

Accepted Answer

Because crema has such a bitter taste, you could theoretically have too much crema for a drink to taste good. However, it isn't easy to get too much of a true crema. Be aware that some espresso machines add air at the end of your shot to get what looks like crema but is just bubbles in espresso. These will pop very quickly compared to true crema.

Question 6

Why Does Crema Disappear After a Few Hours?

Accepted Answer

Like any other bubbles, crema does eventually dissipate. Exactly how long this should take depends on who you ask. However, the general consensus is that it lasts about two minutes. Crema that disappears faster indicates that the espresso shot was probably a little too thin. Don't expect crema to last for hours, despite Google suggestions that indicate otherwise.

Question 7

Can I Get Crema Without an Espresso Machine?

Accepted Answer

You can get crema without an espresso machine. However, it's much more difficult and not always worth it, depending on why you want the crema. To attempt it, you'll need another pressurized method, such as the AeroPress. You'll need a way to increase the pressure, and you'll need to invert it without burning yourself. Please see a full guide before attempting this.

Question 8

What Drinks Can I Make With an Espresso Machine?

Accepted Answer

Espresso machines can give you a virtually endless number of options, but they're all going to start with one of two things: espresso or ristretto. Ristretto is a smaller, even more, concentrated version of espresso made with finer grounds and a lower water ratio.

Question 9

What Are the Best Brands of Espresso Machines?

Accepted Answer

While the best brand will depend on your individual needs and budget, a handful of brands frequently end up in ?best of? lists and recommendations. These include De'Longhi, Gaggia, Capresso, and Breville. Most of these are Italian brands, or at least Italian names because espresso originated in Italy. Many other coffee appliance companies do make perfectly good espresso machines, too, but these four are the most recommended.

Question 10

Why Is My Coffee or Espresso Sour?

Accepted Answer

Sour espresso means that the espresso was likely a little under-extracted. This means that not enough of the coffee compounds ended up in the drink. This can be caused by water going through the grounds too quickly, water being too low a temperature, and water going through too little or too coarse coffee grounds. Sometimes it means that your coffee grounds are a bit too stale or that your beans had too light a roast.

Question 11

Why Is My Coffee or Espresso Bitter?

Accepted Answer

If your coffee is too bitter, then your espresso was likely over-extracted. This means that too much of the coffee beans' compounds ended up in your drink. The most common causes are that the water is moving too slowly through the coffee grounds, the water is too hot, or the coffee is too fine or dense. Bitter coffee can also be caused by beans that were roasted a little too long.

Question 12

How Much Caffeine Is In Espresso?

Accepted Answer

The exact amount of caffeine will depend on the type of beans you use and several other variables, but in general, a shot of espresso has 40 to 65 mg of caffeine. In comparison, a cup of coffee has 65-180 mg of caffeine. Keep in mind, though, that a shot is just one ounce, and a cup of coffee can range from 6 to 12 ounces.