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    Coffee Preparation

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    Discover all the ways to enjoy the taste of happiness, enclosed in a cup.

    Coffee Recipes

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    Discover new ways to experience coffee.

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    Just one touch to obtain a delicious taste.

    Ground Coffee

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    The gesture of a Master Barista for your cup.

    E.S.E. Coffee

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    A unique system, an unmistakable experience.

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    Our nine winning coffees, available for tastings

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  1. Home
  2. Coffee
  3. Coffee preparations
  4. How to make Espresso coffee
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How to make espresso coffee

The name says all: an espresso is to be freshly prepared and enjoyed immediately.  Expressly.

For coffee purists, espresso
is the quintessential coffee preparation – rich, aromatic and velvety all at once; a natural layer of crema on top belying a full-bodied, yet deftly balanced liquid below.  When ideally realized, a small miracle of chemistry and physics: science and art gliding together on air.

Espresso’s authentic formula is clear and basic, its proper execution a matter of training, experience and natural talent.  A jet of hot water at 88°-93°C (190°-200°F) passes under a pressure of nine or more atmospheres through a seven-gram (.25 oz) cake-like layer of ground and tamped coffee. Done right, the result is a concentrate of not more than 30 ml (one oz) of pure sensorial pleasure.
Moka Coffee Poured in an illy cup

The Art of Espresso

Authentic espresso preparation ideally starts by freshly grinding beans perfected for this purest of methods.  The art of the barista is to calibrate the grind, expertly tamp just the right amount of coffee into the filter, then keep close watch on time, temperature and pressure.  Even today’s advanced, automatic machines require proper vigilance; perfection hangs in the balance.

learn about more preparations

Frothed milk being poured CAPPUCCINO Moka being poured into an illy cup MOKA Coffee cup with Neapolitan Coffee NEAPOLITAN COFFEE pouring-brewed-coffee-into-illy-mug BREWED COFFEE pouring-turkish-coffee-illy-cup TURKISH COFFEE French press pouring coffee into an illy mug FRENCH PRESS
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