5 most common mistakes made by a new espresso machine owner

Mistake 1: Googling how to brew espresso

We found that many articles online about espresso brewing give incorrect tips for espresso brewing instead we advise reading our articles About on espresso brewing or contacting companies that are knowledgeable in this area. Alternatively, stick to one source instead of mixing various brewing techniques as it rarely yields good results. 

Mistake 2: Choice of coffee beans

We do not understand how some new espresso machine owners who spend thousands of kronor on an espresso machine choose to use the cheapest beans available in grocery stores or use beans that are far older than 1 month or beans that do not show any roast date at all but only best before dates. Or to use brewed coffee beans instead of espresso beans which have a completely different roast profile tailored for espresso brewing. And think that it will yield results. It's like buying a sports car but using old diesel found in an old garage and hoping the car can run. 

It is important to use beans that are fresher than at least one month, preferably within 4 to 14 days after roasting. 

Mistake 3: Not using a scale

The majority of problems related to brewing arise from eyeballing the amount of ground coffee and the volume of espresso and thus making adjustments based on this. By using a scale, you can immediately see what the problem with your brewing is and make the correct adjustments instead of blindly hoping that your correction can improve your brewing. About If you start using a small scale diligently, you will later be able to estimate much better and make accurate assessments. 

Mistake 4: Irregular tamping

Tamping means that you press the ground coffee compactly like a puck in the filter basket before placing it in the espresso machine. About If you constantly try to press the puck even harder because you see that espresso is flowing out too quickly, then you are thinking wrong. Tamping consistently and pressing it flat and not at an angle every time is a better approach. The other problem is not as obvious, but About if there are several people in the house using the espresso machine who also do not tamp as hard, you can buy a calibrated tamper that presses to a specific pressure, thus ensuring that each press is even and equally hard. 

Mistake 5: Lack of cleaning

Coffee is a food product that is consumed, and thus About if the machine is not cleaned, it can create mold and bacteria which will not taste good. It also negatively affects your health. It may be convenient not to think about cleaning it, but cleaning will make your espresso taste better but also extend its lifespan. When an espresso machine is not cleaned regularly, scale and mineral deposits form, which will end up in valves, hoses, and eventually electronic components. This leads to the machine breaking down. 

Hope these tips help you on your way to achieve the best results possible!