Preparation

Preparation
The Espresso is the basis of many coffee recipes. The original Vienna Espresso is made of 7 grams coffee and 30 ml water. To make a perfect cup of coffee, a few considerations are important:

The coffee
Buy your coffee in aroma protected packaging. This ensures the full taste and aroma of the roasted beans or ground coffee stay fresh. Once you have opened a pack of coffee, use the coffee within days or at most a couple of weeks to guarantee your fresh coffee experience at home. Store your coffee in a dry and cool place. Avoid storing it next to other foods as the coffee may take on smells.

The water
Coffee consists of 99% water. This is why you should refill your coffee machine with fresh water every day. If the water from your tap is hard, we suggest you use a water filter in your machine. This modifies the hardness of your water and improves the aroma of the coffee in addition to increasing the life of your coffee machine.

Steaming milk
Steaming milk is an important part of Vienna coffee recipes. Only with a creamy and fine foam will a cup of coffee taste like a melange in a coffee house. Fill 1/3 of a high container, ideally of steel, with milk and switch on the steamer function of your coffee machine. A gentle up and down movement of the container lets air enter the milk and makes it foamy. Alternatively use a battery driven foamer or a manual foamer (for example by Bodum).

Cleanliness
A clean coffee machine and clean cups are of utmost importance. The aromatic oils in coffees stick to surfaces and quickly give your fresh coffee an old and rancid taste. For best results use a damp cloth and no washing up liquid.