First thing is first: well done on getting started with a coffee machine. It can be a daunting task to say the least, but the fact you made anything drinkable is honestly a good start. It can be a hell of a hobby, but there is so much to learn. Above all, remember that no matter how bad your espresso tastes sometimes, adding milk and sugar/syrups can make virtually anything "drinkable". If you are anything like me, there are many bad shots coming your way before you get good. I won't even TRY to give you tips on the majority of using the barista express, there are much more qualified people out there who have made amazing videos on steaming milk and dialling in espresso extractions. Some of them use your exact machine to demo their skills, so don't give up hope. There is a plethora of information out there waiting for you to consume. What I will recommend however, are a few side purchases and a few tiny tips. I own the same machine and it's virtually my best friend every morning, however its not a perfect package. From start to finish: - Take the beans out the hopper, and keep them in an airtight coffee bean container. When you want coffee, weigh out the a dosage that is "right" for you in a lil cup and put that into the grinder. You will find more tips on correct dosage in espresso extraction videos. It will serve you much better, and hugely reduce coffee waste. In espresso, consistency is key. Finding the perfect dose and copying it is integral to keeping sanity through all the bad shots. - Buy a dosing funnel. You get them from Amazon super cheap, just search "54mm dosing funnel breville". It screws on to the portafilter and gives it extra headroom to capture all the grounds when they come out the grinder, and more room to stir with the WDT. - (Optional) Consider a 54mm distributor. Metal spiral looking things that you spin atop the portafilter to help even out the grounds. Sometimes it just makes the day more fun. - Buy a new tamper, the one that comes with the machine is slightly too small to make a good tamp. I've used a few 54mm tampers, but I settled on a calibrated tamper from Normcore. They are a bit more expensive, both do a MUCH better job. - I would also hugely recommend a puck screen. Little metal disk that you put on top of the tamped coffee puck, that helps distribute the water into the grounds, getting out more flavour. Plus it keeps the shower screen clean from wet grounds,. Win Win. I know I am sitting here advising you to go spend even more money, which is the last thing you want to hear after just getting something new. I took a few years to slowly upgrade my handful of gizmos, and they were all worth it. As my only real espresso tip, I would advise ignoring the espresso range thing on the dial. All my best extractions have been with the pressure gauge at the farthest side of the range scale, or slightly past it. Oh and buy fresh coffee beans. Good lord get fresh beans. Best advice: Watch videos. Tons of them. There is a wealth of knowledge waiting for you, if this becomes a true hobby. I hope you fall in love with this like I did. Coffee can be so much more than just a cup of bean juice. Good Luck and I hope this journey goes well for you both
Dude! Thank you so much for the tips! We’ll definitely be trying some of these tips out. I love the passion you have this! I’ve always had a passion for coffee as well, but never really took it further than a good cup of black coffee. I’m so excited to keep working on bettering myself in this craft, and enjoying every step. Thanks again for watching, and for the tips. Keep grinding!
Are you using the right ground basket with pre grind coffee? I think your machine comes with pressurized single and double shot baskets as well as non pressurized(when you want to start grinding your own beans). Use the pressurized double shot basket if you are aiming for 14-18grams.
Nice video! I began my coffee hobby journey a couple of years ago and now I'm fully down the rabbit hole. I know you mentioned you'd both been watching some videos, but if you haven't come across them I find in particular James Hoffman and Coffee Kev to be great channels for learning! Hope you stick to it, Coffee is a great and fascinating coffee once you get past the steep learning curve!
Couple of comments. One of the thing to take into account when using pre-ground coffee is the portafilter basket. If you use already grounded coffee, you should use the pressurize basket which I believe comes with the Breville. If not, use the normal basket. That also applies if you're doing single shot or double shot. Also try and dial in your coffee. That means trying different settings for the grinder to see which one pulls better. Overall, if you like the coffee you're making, that's always good! Keep at it :)
@@KodyandMeg Also, I would recommend to check out James Hoffmann book about making coffee at home. There also an audiobook. It has a dedicated chapter on espresso and all the variables you can tinker with. You can get down the rabbit hole pretty easily. From dialing in beans for the shot, to under/over-extracted, WDT and tampering. Part of the fun is to see how your shots change, the more variables you tinker with. Happy brewing!
First thing is first: well done on getting started with a coffee machine. It can be a daunting task to say the least, but the fact you made anything drinkable is honestly a good start. It can be a hell of a hobby, but there is so much to learn. Above all, remember that no matter how bad your espresso tastes sometimes, adding milk and sugar/syrups can make virtually anything "drinkable". If you are anything like me, there are many bad shots coming your way before you get good.
I won't even TRY to give you tips on the majority of using the barista express, there are much more qualified people out there who have made amazing videos on steaming milk and dialling in espresso extractions. Some of them use your exact machine to demo their skills, so don't give up hope. There is a plethora of information out there waiting for you to consume. What I will recommend however, are a few side purchases and a few tiny tips. I own the same machine and it's virtually my best friend every morning, however its not a perfect package.
From start to finish:
- Take the beans out the hopper, and keep them in an airtight coffee bean container. When you want coffee, weigh out the a dosage that is "right" for you in a lil cup and put that into the grinder. You will find more tips on correct dosage in espresso extraction videos. It will serve you much better, and hugely reduce coffee waste. In espresso, consistency is key. Finding the perfect dose and copying it is integral to keeping sanity through all the bad shots.
- Buy a dosing funnel. You get them from Amazon super cheap, just search "54mm dosing funnel breville". It screws on to the portafilter and gives it extra headroom to capture all the grounds when they come out the grinder, and more room to stir with the WDT.
- (Optional) Consider a 54mm distributor. Metal spiral looking things that you spin atop the portafilter to help even out the grounds. Sometimes it just makes the day more fun.
- Buy a new tamper, the one that comes with the machine is slightly too small to make a good tamp. I've used a few 54mm tampers, but I settled on a calibrated tamper from Normcore. They are a bit more expensive, both do a MUCH better job.
- I would also hugely recommend a puck screen. Little metal disk that you put on top of the tamped coffee puck, that helps distribute the water into the grounds, getting out more flavour. Plus it keeps the shower screen clean from wet grounds,. Win Win.
I know I am sitting here advising you to go spend even more money, which is the last thing you want to hear after just getting something new. I took a few years to slowly upgrade my handful of gizmos, and they were all worth it. As my only real espresso tip, I would advise ignoring the espresso range thing on the dial. All my best extractions have been with the pressure gauge at the farthest side of the range scale, or slightly past it. Oh and buy fresh coffee beans. Good lord get fresh beans.
Best advice: Watch videos. Tons of them. There is a wealth of knowledge waiting for you, if this becomes a true hobby. I hope you fall in love with this like I did. Coffee can be so much more than just a cup of bean juice. Good Luck and I hope this journey goes well for you both
Dude! Thank you so much for the tips! We’ll definitely be trying some of these tips out. I love the passion you have this! I’ve always had a passion for coffee as well, but never really took it further than a good cup of black coffee. I’m so excited to keep working on bettering myself in this craft, and enjoying every step. Thanks again for watching, and for the tips. Keep grinding!
Are you using the right ground basket with pre grind coffee? I think your machine comes with pressurized single and double shot baskets as well as non pressurized(when you want to start grinding your own beans). Use the pressurized double shot basket if you are aiming for 14-18grams.
It does! My first couple times trying to make espresso I did mess up the basket but have since learned from that🫣🫡
Nice video! I began my coffee hobby journey a couple of years ago and now I'm fully down the rabbit hole. I know you mentioned you'd both been watching some videos, but if you haven't come across them I find in particular James Hoffman and Coffee Kev to be great channels for learning! Hope you stick to it, Coffee is a great and fascinating coffee once you get past the steep learning curve!
Thanks for watching and for the suggestions! Excited to dive deeper into this!
@@KodyandMeg Check out Lance Hedrick, he's a great coffee lad. Also invest in good tampers and portafilers those are long term investments.
Couple of comments. One of the thing to take into account when using pre-ground coffee is the portafilter basket. If you use already grounded coffee, you should use the pressurize basket which I believe comes with the Breville. If not, use the normal basket. That also applies if you're doing single shot or double shot. Also try and dial in your coffee. That means trying different settings for the grinder to see which one pulls better. Overall, if you like the coffee you're making, that's always good! Keep at it :)
I have absolutely misused the portafilter basket on a couple occasions because I forget 😅😂 thanks for the tips!
@@KodyandMeg Also, I would recommend to check out James Hoffmann book about making coffee at home. There also an audiobook. It has a dedicated chapter on espresso and all the variables you can tinker with. You can get down the rabbit hole pretty easily. From dialing in beans for the shot, to under/over-extracted, WDT and tampering. Part of the fun is to see how your shots change, the more variables you tinker with. Happy brewing!
welcome to the money pit we call a "hobby"...