If you enjoy espresso, you understand how annoying it can be to brew a cup at home and have it taste bitter. The good news is that there are a number of potential causes for this, and once the issue has been located, a solution is simple. The reasons why your homemade espresso could taste bitter, how to detect if your coffee has been overextracted, whether overextracted coffee has more caffeine, and how to make a decent crema for your espresso are all covered in this article.
Overextraction is one of the main causes of bitterness in handmade espresso. When water and coffee grounds are in contact for an excessive amount of time, overextraction occurs, producing a bitter flavor. Make sure to use the appropriate quantity of coffee grinds and water to prevent overextraction. Overextraction can result from using too little water or too much coffee.
The age or staleness of the coffee beans is another factor that could contribute to the bitterness of handmade espresso. Your beans may have lost their flavor and turned bitter if they have been sitting in your pantry for a while. Make sure you get fresh beans and store them correctly to prevent this. Beans should be kept in a cool, dark location in an airtight container. You can examine the coffee’s color and flavor to determine whether it has been overextracted. Coffee that has been overextracted will be extremely black and bitter. If your coffee tastes sour, it may be underextracted, meaning that not enough time was spent in contact between the water and the coffee grounds.
Contrary to popular assumption, properly extracted coffee contains the same amount of caffeine as coffee that has been overextracted. The coffee bean itself, not the extraction procedure, determines how much caffeine is there. Therefore, choose high-quality coffee beans if you want a caffeine boost.
If there isn’t any crema on your espresso, the sort of coffee beans you’re using may be to blame. The foamy layer that covers a properly prepared espresso shot is called crema. The coffee beans’ oils emulsify with the water to produce it. Make sure to use fresh, high-quality coffee beans and ground them immediately before using if you want a good crema. Make sure your espresso maker is clean and functional as well.
In conclusion, there are a number of reasons why handmade espresso could taste bitter, but if you use these suggestions, the issue is simple to resolve. Purchase fresh coffee beans, use the appropriate quantity of coffee grounds and water, and check that your espresso maker is in good working condition and clean. You can prepare a nice, non-bitter espresso shot at home with a little experience and trial.