ESPRESSO
SUITED FOR: ESPRESSO
Espresso is the foundation of many of our favourite coffees, from a flat white to a long black. It’s a concentrated brew made by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee under pressure; and when dialled in well, it delivers clarity, balance, and depth in the cup. We use two distinct styles of coffee for espresso:
Milk Based - Ratio of Coffee to Water 1:2.2 brewed in 25s - 30s
Roasted to complement milk-based drinks with a bold, full-bodied profile, ideal for flat whites, ice lattes, etc.
Single Origin - Ratio of Coffee to Water 1:3 brewed in 22s - 31s
Roasted slightly lighter to highlight origin flavour character and clarity — perfect for black coffees like long blacks and straight espresso.
Brew Ratio Calculators
Milk Based (1:2.2)
Single Origin (1:3)
brewing
espresso
EQUIPMENT
- Espresso Machine
- Grinder, or freshly ground beans
- Your favourite bag of Reuben Hills Espresso
- Scale
- Tamp Tool
- Timer
- Cloth
- Portafilter & basket (18g basket is home machine standard)
- WDT tool (optional but recommended)
MILK BASED ESPRESSO - 1:2.2 RATIO > 18G : 40g : 25s ~ 27s
PRE-HEAT MACHINE
- Warm up your coffee machine and portafilter handle up, making sure the handle is hot and dry.
WEIGH YOUR DOSE
- Weigh out 18g of ground Reuben Hills Espresso Roast in your portafilter or dosing cup.
FLUSH THE GROUPHEAD
- Run hot water through the grouphead for 2–3 seconds to flush out old grounds.
GRIND AND PREPARE THE PUCK
- Gently tap the portafilter to level the coffee mound.
- *Optional: Use a WDT tool (distribution tool) to break up clumps and evenly distribute the grinds.
TAMPING
- Use a clean tamper to press down evenly with medium-firm pressure.
- The surface should be flat, compact and level with no tilts or cracks, to prevent channeling.
- Wipe off any coffee grounds from the rim of the portafilter.
INSERT AND START BREWING
- Insert the portafilter into the group head. and start your timer as soon as you hit the brew button.
- Watch the shot:
Espresso should begin to flow as a golden, even stream after ~ 6–10 seconds.
You’re aiming for ~ 40g out in ~27-32 seconds.
STOP AT TARGET YIELD
- Once your scale hits ~36–38g, stop the shot as there will be a small runoff.
- This is a 1:2.2 brew ratio from 18g in → 40g out.
- Note the time. Ideal extraction is often between 25–30 seconds.
From here, it's time to taste! Refine your flavours further with our dialling in & troubleshooting page.
