When you finally decide to stay in for a hot steaming shot of espresso you need to follow some guidelines or you will end up with a bitter and unarguably pour coffee alternative.

The Shopping

The perfect shot of espresso starts at the store. The first thing you always want to look for when buying espresso is whole bean espresso. Never start with a pre-ground espresso bean. The flavor of pre-ground espresso beans will pale in comparison to fresh ground espresso. The second thing you want to do is select quality beans, espresso is a luxury this is not the time to pinch pennies. Third you always want to buy fresh espresso beans. Shopping at your local grocery store may not be the best choice. Try a coffee house or specialty grocer that carries fresh whole bean espresso.

The Grinding

When grinding espresso use a clean grinder you wouldn