Espresso brewing
Espresso is a concentrated brewing method in which pressurised water is forced through a compact bed of finely ground coffee.
How espresso works
A measured dose of ground coffee is distributed and compressed in a filter basket. The machine forces heated water through the coffee bed. The resulting beverage is small and concentrated compared with many filter brews.
Important variables
Grind size, dose, beverage yield, water temperature, pressure, puck preparation and time can all influence the extraction. Espresso recipes are therefore tuned rather than defined by one universal number.
What is crema?
Crema is the foam-like layer that commonly forms on espresso. It contains dissolved gases and coffee compounds. Its presence does not by itself prove that an espresso is good or bad.
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Accuracy note: Coffee terminology and recommended brewing parameters can vary by producer, roaster, equipment and recipe. Where a term is not universally standardised, this site says so rather than presenting one convention as a rule.