Here Are Some Ways To Brew Espresso Without A Machine

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Plenty of folks would prefer espresso over coffee if given the choice, but not many have a bona fide espresso machine on hand. However, that doesn't mean you have to run out to Starbucks for a handcrafted drink every time the urge for an espresso strikes. We spoke with Jee Choe, who shares her knowledge about everything coffee and tea at Oh, How Civilized, about how to employ alternative methods of brewing the concentrated beverage without a proper machine. She had a couple of suggestions that might change the way you look at your morning cup of joe.

"Technically, an espresso machine is the only way to make real espresso, but there are other ways to make an espresso-like coffee," Choe said, initially dampening our hopes that great-tasting home-brewed espresso could be achieved. However, she followed that hard-hitting truth with recommendations on how to get the next best thing. "Espresso is made using pressurized infusion and the AeroPress and Moka Pot both mimic the pressure needed to make espresso." 

You won't get the same velvety consistency when using an AeroPress, but it does mimic an espresso machine by applying pressure to finely ground beans. We recommend the AeroPress Original Coffee Press as an economical option for this task. Once water gets heated to roughly 200 degrees, stir it with the grounds before using the plunger to pressurize the roast. A Moka pot, on the other hand, functions a bit like a tea kettle. The grounds and water are heated on the stove until you see a light coffee foam at the top of the device, signaling that your mock espresso is done.

When making espresso using tools not meant for that purpose, give yourself the best shot at the drink coming out right by paying attention to the size of your grounds. "The most common espresso-brewing mistake I see is not getting the proper grind size," Choe said. "How fine and uniform the coffee ground is can be the difference between sour and watery espresso to a flavorful and rich tasting espresso."

You don't necessarily want to use any old grinder you have lying around for this. According to Choe, "You want to use a burr grinder, instead of a conical (blade) to get even, uniform ground coffee." These tend to be more expensive than blade grinders, but you don't need a top-of-the-line model to get the right texture. This CUISINART Electric Burr One-Touch Automatic Grinder is affordable and based on its high percentage of five-star reviews, it should be able to get you grounds with a similar consistency to table salt, which is ideal for brewing espresso.

Using the right amount of grinds is also crucial. Somewhere between 18 and 22 grams of medium or dark roast beans is ideal. After you have made your exquisite morning perk, don't forget to clean your equipment. You can easily clean your grinder with instant rice. Rice will absorb leftover oils from the coffee beans that can affect the taste of your next brew, which would be a shame after going to the trouble of figuring out how to make a flavorful espresso without a proper machine.