9
Secrets to the perfect cup
With a Sunbeam pump espresso machine
and a little experience, you can create
café quality coffee at home. As there are a
number of possibilities for making coffee to
meet your personal taste, following are a few
helpful suggestions:
• The origin of the bean and roasting will
affect the taste of the espresso, so test
different brands of coffee to find the one
that you like best.
• The grind of the coffee is critical. Vary the
degree of grinding to find the right fineness
for the coffee beans being used.
• A regular shot of espresso, the base of all
café coffees is approximately 30mLs. The
shot of espresso is a concentrate; vary the
quantity of milk to determine the strength
and volume of the coffee. If you are using
a large coffee cup or mug you may require
a double shot of espresso, rather than just
a single shot depending on your taste.
• Always use the freshest beans or ground
coffee available and store in an airtight
container in a cool, dry, dark place.
• Whole coffee beans stay fresh longer than
pre-ground coffee.
• Pre-warm cups prior to making an
espresso, either by filling with hot water or
placing on the warming plate.
• Always use cold milk and a clean stainless
steel jug when texturing/frothing milk.
• Don’t boil the milk when steaming. The
ideal temperature is when the jug becomes
too hot to touch.
• Once prepared, serve coffee immediately.
• Keep the espresso machine clean.
Familiarise yourself with the ‘Care and
Cleaning’ section of this book.