Brewing Tips: Mastering Espresso at Home

Pulling the perfect espresso shot is both an art and a science. It’s where precision meets passion—where a few grams of coffee and seconds on the clock can completely change the flavor in your cup. If you’re brewing espresso at home, here are some essential tips to help you get the most out of every shot—especially when using a standout espresso like our Brazilian Sunshine Medium Roast.

1. Start with Fresh, Quality Beans

Espresso demands clarity and balance, so the quality and freshness of your beans make a huge difference. Our Brazilian Sunshine Medium Roast is crafted for espresso—highlighting rich chocolate notes, balanced acidity, and a smooth, sunny finish.

Look for beans roasted within the past 2–4 weeks and store them in a cool, airtight container.

2. Dial in Your Grind Size

Espresso grind should be very fine, like powdered sugar—but not so fine that it clogs your machine. The grind affects everything from shot time to flavor. If your shot pulls too fast (under 25 seconds), your grind is likely too coarse. If it drips or chokes (over 35 seconds), it’s probably too fine.

Adjust your grind size to hit this balance. It might take a few tries, but dialing in is part of the ritual.

For our Brazilian Sunshine, we got perfect shots at grind level 5 using a Breville grinder. We recommend starting at this point and adjusting based on your grinder from there.

3. Weigh Everything—Seriously

Espresso is too precise to eyeball. Use a digital scale to measure both your dose (ground coffee in) and your yield (espresso out). This ensures consistency and lets you fine-tune your technique.

Standard starting point:

- Dose: 18–20g of coffee in

- Yield: 36–40g of espresso out

- Time: 28–32 seconds shot time

This gives you a balanced shot with body, clarity, and sweetness.

4. Tamp Evenly and Firmly

A proper tamp ensures uniform extraction. Hold your tamper level, apply firm pressure, and avoid twisting. Consistency matters more than strength.

5. Purge Your Group Head

Before pulling your shot, flush the group head for 2–3 seconds. This clears any old grounds and ensures your water temperature is on point.

6. Watch the Shot, Not Just the Clock

The ideal espresso flows like warm honey: a slow drip that turns into a steady stream with a golden-brown crema. If it sprays or gushes, adjust your grind or dose.

7. Clean Your Gear Religiously

Clean your portafilter and basket after every shot. Backflush your machine daily, and use espresso cleaner weekly. Great coffee deserves clean gear.

Brew with Brazilian Sunshine

Our Brazilian Sunshine Medium Roast is roasted to bring out natural sweetness, balance, and depth—perfect for espresso lovers. Try it in your home setup and taste the difference that careful cultivation and expert roasting make.

Coming Soon in Our Brewing Tips Series

Espresso is just the beginning. We’ll soon be sharing guides for other brewing methods:

- Pour-Over Perfection

- French Press Fundamentals

- Cold Brew Clarity

- AeroPress Adventures

Follow along as we help you brew better—one method at a time.