How to Make Better Espresso at Home

Better Espresso Starts with Better Coffee

Making great espresso coffee in Malta doesn’t require turning your kitchen into a laboratory.

But espresso is unforgiving.

Coffee quality, freshness, grind size, dose and extraction all influence a drink produced in only a few seconds.

Get those fundamentals right and even small improvements can completely change your espresso.

Choose Coffee Made for the Cup You Want

There is no rule saying every espresso must taste the same.

Some people want a smooth, balanced cup. Others want considerably more intensity.

For our collection, Velvet Rosa is the coffee we recommend when you’re looking for a rich but beautifully balanced everyday espresso.

If you prefer something bolder, Fumo Alto provides considerably more presence.

For a deeper and rounder profile, Terra Cacao is another excellent espresso choice.

Grind Your Coffee Fresh

Grinding is one of the biggest variables in espresso.

Too coarse and water can pass through the coffee too quickly, producing a thin and underdeveloped cup.

Too fine and extraction can become excessively slow, producing an unpleasant result.

The correct setting depends on your beans, machine and grinder.

Rather than obsessing over somebody else’s exact grinder number, adjust according to what is happening in your cup.

Keep Your Dose Consistent

Consistency makes troubleshooting much easier.

If you change the coffee quantity, grind and extraction simultaneously, you won’t know which adjustment actually improved the result.

Start with the dose recommended for your basket and keep it consistent while adjusting the grind.

A small digital scale makes this dramatically easier.

Distribute Coffee Evenly

Before extraction, the ground coffee should sit evenly inside the portafilter.

Uneven distribution can encourage water to find easier routes through the coffee instead of extracting the puck consistently.

Take a few seconds to distribute the grounds and tamp evenly.

You don’t need to attack the tamper like it owes you money.

Consistency matters considerably more than theatrical violence. 😂

Pay Attention to Your Extraction

Extraction time can be a useful diagnostic tool, but it shouldn’t become a religion.

Watch how the espresso flows and, most importantly, taste it.

If your espresso tastes thin or unpleasantly sharp, extraction may need adjustment.

If it tastes excessively bitter, dry or harsh, another adjustment may be necessary.

Change one variable at a time.

That’s how you learn what your equipment and coffee actually need.

Use Fresh Water

Espresso is mostly water.

Predictably, the quality of that water matters.

Use clean, fresh water appropriate for your espresso machine and maintain the machine according to its manufacturer’s recommendations.

Old coffee oils and mineral deposits aren’t secret Italian ingredients.

Keep Your Coffee Fresh

Store your beans properly and grind only what you need whenever possible.

Keep coffee away from excessive heat, moisture, sunlight and air.

Freshness doesn’t magically turn poor coffee into exceptional coffee, but stale beans can certainly ruin good coffee.

Espresso with Milk

If you usually prepare cappuccino, latte or flat white, choose a coffee with enough character to remain noticeable after milk is added.

Velvet Rosa works beautifully when you want balance.

For a stronger milk-based drink, Fumo Alto is particularly interesting because its fuller character remains present in the finished cup.

Find Your Espresso Coffee at Coffee Malta

We select coffees for different preferences rather than pretending there is one correct version of espresso.

Explore our collection, experiment with your grind and extraction, and find the combination that works for your equipment and your taste.

Because ultimately, the best espresso is the one you actually want to make again tomorrow morning.