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Italian

Espresso (double shot)

Vegetarian

Caffè espresso

A short, concentrated coffee made by forcing hot water through a tightly packed puck of fine coffee: about 18 g of coffee in, 36 g of syrupy espresso with a hazel crema out, in 25–30 seconds.

Espresso (double shot) is an Italian hot drink from Italy, ready in about 4 minutes and made with finely ground coffee. It serves 1 and is rated intermediate to cook.

Start cooking
Crop unrecognizable female barista in light green apron passing hot aromatic espresso in stylish transparent cup above wooden table
Photo: Ketut Subiyanto / Pexels · Pexels License
Prep
3 min
Cook
1 min
Total
4 min
Serves
1
Level
Intermediate
Calories
4

Ingredients

1 double shot

Equipment

Method

  1. Step 1

    Switch the machine on 15–20 minutes ahead so the group head is fully hot (brew water 90–94 °C). Run a 2-second flush through the group and warm the cup with hot water.

  2. Step 2

    Weigh 18 g of beans and grind them fine straight into the dry portafilter basket. Settle the grounds with a tap, level them and tamp firmly and evenly so the puck is flat.

    Tamp level rather than hard: an uneven puck lets water channel through one side.

  3. Step 3

    Lock in the portafilter, put the cup on a scale underneath and start the shot at once. Stop at about 36 g in the cup (a 1:2 ratio); it should take 25–30 seconds from pressing the button.

    Faster than 20 s and sour: grind finer. Slower than 35 s and harsh: grind coarser.

  4. Step 4

    Stir the crema into the coffee (and sugar (opens in a new tab) if using) and drink straight away, while the aroma is at its best.

    About this dish

    Origin
    Italy · Well documentedPressure-brewed espresso and the espresso bar developed in Italy in the first half of the 20th century.Also popular in Spain, Portugal, France, Australia, United StatesMore food from Italy
    Dish
    Breakfast · Snack · Hot drinks
    Cooking method
    Boiled
    Taste
    bitter, rich, aromatic / warmly spiced
    Diet
    Vegan · No gluten ingredients · Dairy-free · No nut ingredients · Low-carb
    All labelsVegan · Plant-based · Vegetarian (lacto-ovo) · Eggetarian · Lacto-vegetarian · Ovo-vegetarian · Pescatarian · Flexitarian-friendly · No gluten ingredients · Dairy-free · Egg-free · No nut ingredients · Alcohol-free · Pork-free · Beef-free · Low-carb · Low-fat · Low-sodium · DASH-style
    Without the optional extras: Whole-food focused, Paleo-style, No added sugarWorked out from the ingredients. How labels work
    Good for
    Everyday
    Cook more with
    Finely ground coffee
    Techniques
    Boiling

    Allergens

    None of the 14 major allergens appear in the listed ingredients.

    Based on typical versions of these ingredients and not verified allergen-free. Brands differ and cross-contact happens, so always check labels. For severe allergies, follow your clinician’s advice.

    Nutrition

    4 kcal per serving

    Estimated

    1 serving ≈ 61 g · recipe makes 1

    Where the energy comes from

    • Protein 11%
    • Carbohydrate 89%
    • Fat 0%
    Nutrition per serving and per 100 g
    NutrientPer servingPer 100 g*
    Energy4 kcal6 kcal
    Protein0.1 g0.2 g
    Carbohydrate0.8 g1.2 g
    Net carbohydrate0.8 g1.2 g
    Sugars0 g0 g
    Added sugars0 g0 g
    Fibre0 g0 g
    Fat0 g0 g
    Saturated fat0 g0 g
    Trans fat0 g0 g
    Cholesterol0 mg0 mg
    Sodium2 mg3 mg
    Salt equivalent0 g0 g
    Vitamins & minerals per serving
    Potassium
    35 mg
    Calcium
    7 mg
    Iron
    0 mg
    Magnesium
    4 mg
    Vitamin A (RAE)
    0 µg
    Vitamin C
    0 mg
    Vitamin D
    0 µg
    Vitamin B12
    0 µg
    Folate (DFE)
    0 µg

    How these numbers were made

    • Calculated from USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy) per-100 g values and the listed quantities.
    • *Per 100 g of combined raw ingredients; the cooked dish may weigh more or less.
    • Optional ingredients are not included: sugar.
    • Finely ground coffee: Instant coffee powder used as a stand-in for the soluble part of roasted ground coffee; list the grams actually consumed with consumedGrams.
    • “—” means the value isn’t known for enough of the ingredients; it is never zero by default.
    • Values are estimates for guidance, not for medical dosing. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. fdc.nal.usda.gov.

    Good to know

    Tips

    • Change only one thing at a time — grind size is the main dial; keep dose and yield fixed while you dial in.
    • Knock out the puck and wipe the basket dry between shots.

    Common mistakes

    • Using pre-ground supermarket coffee, which is usually too coarse and stale for a good shot.
    • Leaving the portafilter out of the machine so it goes cold.

    Serve with

    • In Italy it is drunk standing at the bar with a glass of water.

    Food safety

    • Machine parts and the portafilter are very hot; handle by the handle only.

    Storage

    • Drink immediately; espresso loses its crema and aroma within a minute or two.

    Variations

    • Ristretto (Italy): Same dose, stopped at about 25 g for a sweeter, more intense shot.
    • Lungo: Run longer to 55–60 g for a lighter, more bitter cup.
    • Single shot: 7–9 g in the single basket, about 25 g out.

    Original editorial recipe · FriendsPantry editorial · Not yet independently reviewed · Added · Updated

    Recipe DNA

    How this dish is built

    Customise in Sip & Blend

    Grouped by each ingredient’s role in the dish. Each band’s width is its share of the dish by weight. Choose a component to see what it does.

    The body of the dish

    Gravy, sauce & base

    Used in steps 2, 3, 4

    Less sweet, dairy-free, caffeine-free or for more people — the original stays as it is.

    Customise in Sip & Blend

    Reviews & corrections

    Reviews come from signed-in cooks and appear after a moderator checks them. We never show made-up ratings.

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