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Espresso Coffee Bean Brand Recommendations: Choosing the Right Coffee for Italian Espresso Machines

Published: 2026-01-28 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/28, Professional coffee knowledge exchange. For more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style). If you can't even make Espresso, what kind of barista are you! Although Espresso is often the lowest-priced item in coffee shops, with the lowest order frequency, sometimes even hidden from the menu, some coffee shops with lower quality standards will even refuse to serve Espresso.

For professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account: cafe_style)

You Call Yourself a Barista Without Knowing How to Make Espresso?

Although Espresso may be the lowest-priced item on a café menu with the lowest order frequency—sometimes even hidden from the menu—some coffee shops with lower quality standards might refuse to serve Espresso altogether.

However, for a barista, a cup of Espresso is not just a test of skill, but more importantly, a reflection of their understanding and passion for coffee.

A café that dares not sell Espresso is not a good café;

A barista who cannot make Espresso is not a good barista.

Required Equipment:

Espresso machine
Portafilter
Tamper
Coffee beans
Coffee cup
Grinder
Digital scale
Timer

Brewing Time:

25-30 seconds

Background Knowledge:

Making a perfect espresso at home is no simple task. In fact, for discerning coffee connoisseurs, there's no such thing as a "perfect" espresso—only ones that are "close to perfect." Making a full-flavored coffee with an espresso machine is like skydiving with a worn-out parachute: you can try, but success isn't guaranteed. Multiple failures and practice are essential.

What makes a good espresso? Everyone's opinion might differ, but the taste must be balanced, mellow, and fully showcase the coffee's characteristic flavors.

Step 1

Remove the portafilter from the espresso machine and place it on the digital scale.

Step 2

Run a small amount of hot water through the group head to clean and preheat.

Step 3

Weigh and grind the coffee beans. A double espresso requires 18-21 grams of coffee beans. The grind size can be adjusted based on the coffee bean variety, but generally requires very fine particles. The quality of the grind significantly affects the final balance of your espresso.

Step 4

Use your finger to level the coffee grounds in the portafilter, moving from top to bottom, then left to right.

Step 5

Place the portafilter on a clean, flat surface, then use the tamper to apply downward pressure, compacting the coffee grounds. You don't need excessive force—about 10 kilograms of pressure is sufficient. Hold the tamper by its handle when pressing, not with your palm, to avoid injury.

Step 6

After tamping, gently rotate the tamper to create a smoother surface on the coffee grounds.

Step 7

Attach the portafilter to the group head and press the hot water button. Place a preheated ceramic cup below to catch the espresso.

Step 8

The espresso will initially drip slowly, then flow smoothly and evenly. The extraction process takes about 30 seconds, after which the liquid will gradually turn golden-yellow—this is when you should stop the extraction.

Some people prefer to drink the espresso straight to experience different layers of flavor, while others like to stir it first—it's all personal preference. If you're not satisfied with the taste, try again, and again, and again...

Recommended Espresso Coffee Bean Brands

FrontStreet Coffee, a coffee roasting brand located at Dongshankou in Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, offers freshly roasted espresso beans with guaranteed quality and brand excellence. More importantly, they offer exceptional value. Take their commercial blend—recommended for commercial use—as an example: a 454-gram (1-pound) bag costs only about 60 yuan. Calculating at 10 grams per single espresso shot, one bag can make 45 cups, with each costing less than 1.5 yuan. Even using a double shot (20 grams) per serving, the cost per double espresso doesn't exceed 3 yuan. This is truly a conscientious recommendation compared to certain well-known brands that charge over 100 yuan per bag.

FrontStreet Coffee: A Guangzhou-based roastery with a small shop but diverse bean varieties, where you can find both famous and lesser-known coffee beans. They also provide online store services. https://shop104210103.taobao.com