Guide to Brewing Modern Italian Espresso Coffee

Espresso coffee should be bold, smooth, approachable, and above all, enjoyable to brew.

Here's our guide to getting started with espresso at home, using a simple, modern Italian method.

You’ll Need

To brew espresso coffee, gather the following:

• Coffee beans
• An espresso machine
• Grinder, if you're using whole beans
• Tamp
• Digital scales (optional but helpful)
• Timer

Choosing Your Coffee

Both of our blends are espresso-ready, but they offer different flavour profiles:

Signature Blend

• Sweet nuttiness, mellow richness
• Medium body with a creamy mouthfeel
• Elegant as a black coffee, but cuts through milk beautifully

Traditional Blend

• Deep, syrupy body with bold intensity
• Flavour notes of dark chocolate, marzipan and vanilla
• Perfect for lovers of strong, classic espresso

Brewing Basics

Here’s a foundational espresso recipe to get you started:

Dose: 18-20g of coffee in
Yield: 36-40g of espresso out
Ratio: 1:2
Brew Time: 20-25 seconds

Tip: use a scale if possible to weigh both the input and the output for accuracy and consistency. Or, simply taste as you go!

Step 1: Measure and grind

Use 18–20g of ground coffee – the grind should be fine, like table salt.

Step 2:  Distribute and tamp

Distribute the grounds evenly in the basket and tamp firmly and evenly with consistent pressure.

Step 3:  Brew

Start your timer as soon as you activate the shot – you're aiming for 36–40g out in 20–25 seconds.

Step 4:  Taste and adjust

If your espresso tastes sour, thin or dry, grind finer and extend your brew time. If it tastes bitter, flat or hollow, grind coarser and shorten the brew time. Small changes (1–2 seconds) can dramatically affect flavour.

Modern Italian Coffee at Home

At Caffè Ducale, we believe espresso is an art to master over time, and a little luxury that makes every day better.

Our blends are perfectly suited to home espresso brewing – approachable, forgiving, and full of flavour.