Can You Make Espresso In a Regular Coffee Machine?

I think the reason why you will find regular coffee machines in most homes is their price. Most coffee makers sell somewhere below $200. Espresso machines on the other hand sell at a premium thus, only a handful of people opt for them. Even so, most coffee hobbyists love strong espresso shots. That raises the question; can you make espresso in a regular coffee machine?

You cannot make an authentic espresso in a regular coffee machine. However, you can modify your brew process to make a bold coffee drink with intense flavors, similar to espresso.

The History of Espresso Machine

Angelo Moriondo, an Italian inventor developed the famous espresso machine in 1884. Since then, coffee lovers have been using the brewing machine to produce the bold, dark, and mouth-watering espresso brew. The one you cherish so much.

Now, for you to be a pro in brewing espresso, there are three things you need to master;

• The espresso roasts
• Grind size
• The pressure exerted for the coffee to brew

1. Espresso Roast

The coffee beans roast for espresso is dark. And that’s why espresso is bolder with intense flavors compared to drip coffee.

Here is the thing, when coffee beans undergo roasting for a longer time, they become more porous. With that, you get more flavor compounds to extract after grinding your coffee beans.

What sets espresso beans apart from regular coffee beans is the roast. The roast for regular coffee beans tends to be light or medium. The beans also lack the oily sheen present in beans designed for espresso.

Top Espresso Roasts In The Market

If you don’t know which espresso roasts to buy, allow me to recommend the two top best in the market currently;

• Lifeboost Premium espresso coffee beans

With these espresso beans, you get a mighty punch of solid caffeine. The organic espresso beans will keep you fueled with caramel and chocolate notes, packaged with a slightly fruity flavor. Besides, they are 100% Arabica beans with no harsh pesticides or chemicals.

• Sight Glass Organic Crown Point

If you are a sweet tooth coffee hobbyist, this espresso blend will give you the organic brew you need. The espresso combines well with milk, giving you a full-bodied flavor.

But that’s not all; these quality espresso beans create a heavenly sip with notes of chocolate, raspberry, and butterscotch.

2. Espresso Grind Size

After roasting, you have to grind your dark-roasted coffee beans into fine powder. With the finer coffee grounds, water flows through them at a slower speed. Thus, increasing the pressure necessary to create a bold espresso shot.

Grinding the coffee beans yourself is the best way to get a more precise espresso grind. And I hope you are not planning to crush them by hand. Yes, it is possible to do it, but you can save yourself some time and energy by purchasing an automatic coffee grinder.

If you don’t know which one to buy, check out the Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill. This grinder is pocket-friendly and gives you a uniform grind for optimum flavor.

Besides, it has an 18-position grind selector. Therefore, you can set the grind size you want, ranging from ultra-fine to extra-coarse.

3. Espresso Pressure

Espresso machines function through a pressurized process. They force hot water to pass thoroughly closely packed coffee grounds. With that, your finer coffee grounds extract fully, creating a rich and bold espresso brew. You need nine bars of pressure to achieve that.

Can You Make Espresso In a Regular Coffee Machine?

It is quite a challenge to make espresso with a regular coffee machine. Even so, you can modify your brew process to create a coffee drink that is intense and tastes like an espresso.

The modifications you need to make the process work include;

1. Adjusting The Amount Of Water

If you aim to create something like espresso using your regular brewer, use less water. The best proportion would be 2-ounces of filtered water for a tablespoon of ground coffee.

2. Check The Grind Size

Usually, the best grind size for espresso is fine coffee ground. But when using a regular coffee machine to brew, use a medium-fine grind. A grind that is too fine will make your coffee bitter and take longer to brew. On the other hand, a too coarse grind will create a weak brew.

3. Be Keen On The Water Temperature

You need to pour warm filtered water into the coffee maker’s water reservoir. That’s to enable the water to reach the correct temperature for brewing espresso. In most cases, coffee makers don’t attain the temperatures required to brew espresso.

4. Use Bold Espresso Blends

To get a robust espresso flavor, go for coffee beans blends specifically designed for espresso. Most dark roasts will do a better job. Check out some of the top espresso blends in the market. You can also opt for Vietnamese coffee. It has such a strong taste and deep flavor.

How To Make Espresso in a Regular Coffee Machine

Look, if you love strong espresso shots, but you can’t afford an espresso machine, don’t break a bank. You can still make your espresso version using that drip machine on your counter. Take a look at the simple steps.

Equipment

• Espresso cups
• Drip coffee maker

Ingredients

• A tablespoon of medium-fine coffee grounds
• 2 ounces of warm water

Steps

1. Measure a tablespoon of medium-fine coffee grounds and pour inside the coffee filter.
2. Press down the coffee grounds to aid with pressure while brewing. It is like tamping the grounds.
3. Take two ounces of warm water and pour it inside the water reservoir.
4. Press the brew button and wait. If your brewer gives you an option of concentrate brew, press that instead.
5. Drink your espresso immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Final Thoughts

Even though a regular coffee machine cannot make authentic espresso, you can still use it to make a bold brew, similar to espresso. Just ensure you keep in mind four things; coffee roast, grind size, water temperature, and pressure. The rest will fall in place.