Five Ways to Fall in Love with Espresso Again
Espresso has a way of capturing people's attention and not letting go. It's intense, fast, finicky, romantic, and even a little nerdy. A coffeemaker is an appliance. An espresso machine is a machine, a collection of solenoids, valves, and pumps, all working together to produce a single, concentrated bliss in a cup. For many, it's more transformative than a habitual hobby. It's a lived ritual, and sometimes even a way of life.
But as with many hobbies, it's easy to get so deep into the details that we lose sight of what made it exciting in the first place. If you've been pulling shots for a while, here are five reminders to help you continue enjoying espresso and get out of that rut you've been stuck in.
Get the Right Gear the First Time
Here’s the not-so-cold and brutal truth: starting with the right espresso gear at the beginning of your espresso journey will actually save you time, money, and frustration in the long run. We are in the game of selling espresso machines, so we understand acutely that making espresso at home comes with a sticker price that, for many, is a little shocking at first. But remember this: You don’t need to spend extravagantly to start right. You only need to find the right equipment based on your unique needs.
There are plenty of clankers on the market that claim to be espresso machines, or make “espresso-style” coffee, but they all fall short of the genuine article. An AeroPress or moka pot can brew great coffee, but won’t give you true espresso. Many cheaper, automated machines promise the world but deliver very little, which is one of many reasons why you'll find them absent from our catalogue.
Even our most approachable manual setup, like the Flair manual lever paired with a Baratza Encore ESP Pro, can pull beautiful shots. Or, if you want something that steams milk and handles daily use with ease, the LUCCA Tempo and Eureka Mignon Silenzio 55 make a fantastic team. Whatever you choose, investing in capable tools from the start will make your journey more fun and far less frustrating. We offer free consultations for folks looking to begin their espresso setup, so we suggest you take advantage of that!
Explore All the Possibilities
If you bought an espresso machine, it probably wasn’t just for convenience or cost savings. Although you may have justified your purchase becuase of these theoretical cost savings, you really committed because making espresso is exciting, tactile, and endlessly creative, so we suggest leaning into that curiosity more than anything.
It's all about the coffee, stupid. Try that funky anaerobic or natural-processed coffee with wild tasting notes. Experiment with your first turbo shot. See what happens when you let a shot run for two minutes. Drink that weird-looking pull. Espresso isn’t about chasing one mythical “perfect” recipe; it’s about discovering the joy in dozens of different cups along the way.
Learn (or Remember) How to Enjoy Bad Coffee
Do you remember your first cup of diner coffee? Chances are, it wasn’t very good. But you probably still enjoyed it for what it was. We love diner coffee.
Part of growing as a home barista is realizing that even a “bad” shot has something to offer. Maybe it’s nostalgic, maybe it’s quirky, maybe it’s just a reminder that perfection isn’t the only goal. Whether it’s diner drip, a watery Americano, or an over-extracted shot, there’s value in taking it as it comes. Once you put aside the idea of failure, every shot becomes worth appreciating in its own way. Too many home baristas fret over what a shot is supposed to look like or chase marginal gains.
Benefits from Less Exploration
Yes, you read that right. After exploring all the wild techniques (and there are many), knowing when to pause is important.
Sometimes the pursuit of perfection leads to burnout. If every shot feels like it’s falling short, give yourself permission to take a break from experimenting. Keep your grinder dial where it is. Buy your favorite easy espresso blend. Pull a shot without overthinking it and enjoy the ritual. The joy of espresso isn’t always in chasing novelty; it’s also in the comfort of the familiar. The experiments will still be there when you’re ready to dive back in.
Drinks with Friends are Better
Sharing the goods is one of the best parts of owning an espresso machine. Few things are as satisfying as pulling a shot for a friend, steaming them a cappuccino, or mixing up an espresso martini (seriously, try making one at home, the difference is night and day).
Coffee is a personal ritual, but it becomes even richer when shared with the people we care about the most. Brewing for someone else, whether it’s their first espresso or their daily latte, is one of the simplest but most rewarding ways to enjoy your setup. Check out our espresso martini recipe, where we deep-dive into making a gauntlet of espresso martinis with different coffees, all made with real espresso.
Espresso is equal parts hobby, ritual, and exploration. To keep it exciting, set yourself up with tools you love, experiment often, learn to appreciate every cup (even the odd ones), know when to rest, and share it with others.
At the end of the day, the best espresso shot reminds you why you fell in love with it in the first place.