How to Use a Coffee Machine: Brewing, Cleaning & Care Tips
Disappointing home coffee usually comes down to the first 30 seconds, not the machine. Get three numbers right (your coffee dose, espresso yield, and shot time), and you have a solid starting point for a better brew.
Whether you’ve just brought home a new coffee machine or want to get more from your present setup, we’ll walk you through how to make espresso, froth milk with a steam wand and keep your coffee machine clean. From your first shot to the regular clean-up, here's how to get your coffee right and keep your machine in good working order.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Before Your First Coffee: Setup and Priming
- How to Pull a Good Shot: The Three Numbers
- Frothing Milk With the Steam Wand
- The Care Routine: After Every Coffee, Weekly and Every Few Months
- Troubleshooting: What Your Coffee Is Telling You
- Getting More Out of Your Machine
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related Articles
Before Your First Coffee: Setup and Priming
Before your first brew, fill the tank with fresh water and prime the machine as outlined in the user guide. Run hot water through the empty portafilter to warm it up, so you’re ready to make your first coffee.
Here’s how to get your coffee machine ready for its first shot:
- Fill the tank: Use fresh, cold water. Filtered water may help in hard-water areas.
- Prime the machine: Follow the priming steps in our coffee machine user video guides.
- Warm the portafilter: Run water through it as directed in the user guide.
- Preheat your cup: Fill it with hot water, then empty it before brewing.
A little prep gets your machine ready for extraction, so don’t skip priming if you’re keen for that first caffeine hit.
How to Pull a Good Shot: The Three Numbers
To make espresso consistently, focus on three numbers: coffee dose, espresso yield and shot time. A common starting recipe is 18g of ground coffee in, 36g of espresso out and a shot time of 25 to 30 seconds.
For a double shot, these are good starting points. Check your basket size and user guide, then adjust as needed to get the flavour you like.
- Coffee in: Start with around 18g. If the shot runs too quickly, try adding a little more coffee; if it runs too slowly, use a little less.
- Coffee out: Aim for around 36g of espresso, a 1:2 ratio. If the shot runs too quickly, stop it a little earlier; if it runs too slowly, let it run a little longer.
- Shot time: Aim for 25 to 30 seconds. If it runs too quickly, grind finer; if it runs too slowly, grind coarser.
- Taste: You’re looking for a balanced, sweet flavour. Sour or thin coffee can mean under-extraction, while bitter or harsh flavours can point to over-extraction.
Change one variable at a time, starting with the grind. That way, you’ll know what improved the shot.
Like many home espresso the Espresso Pro’s pump can reach 20 bar, which is the pump’s maximum. You don’t need to hit that number for a good espresso, though. Around 9 bar is typical for extraction, so treat the pressure gauge as a reading to learn from as your shot pours. Your manual will show which part of the gauge marks the ideal range.
If your portafilter has automatic tamping, like the Espresso Pro’s does, follow the manual’s instructions instead of tamping again out of habit.
The Baccarat Bottom Line: Adjust the grind before changing everything else. Small, repeatable tweaks help you find your sweet spot.
Frothing Milk With the Steam Wand
To froth milk with a steam wand, start with cold milk in a cold jug. Keep the steam wand tip near the surface to add air, then lower it slightly to get the milk spinning and create a smooth, creamy texture. When you’re finished, wipe the wand and purge it straight away to clear any leftover milk.
Use these steps for a flat white, latte or cappuccino:
- Start cold: Pour cold milk into a cold jug, filling it to just below the spout.
- Purge the wand: Let out a quick burst of steam before you start.
- Add air: Keep the tip just below the milk’s surface until you hear a gentle hiss.
- Create a whirlpool: Lower the tip slightly to get the milk spinning and break up larger bubbles.
- Check the temperature: Stop once the jug is too hot to hold comfortably.
- Clean straight away: Wipe the wand with a damp cloth, then purge it again to clear any leftover milk.
Aim for glossy, fine-textured milk rather than big bubbles. It takes practice, so don’t worry if your first attempt looks more like bubble bath than café foam.
The Care Routine: After Every Coffee, Weekly and Every Few Months
Most coffee machine cleaning takes seconds after each coffee, with a deeper clean once a week and a descale every two to three months. If you stick to that routine, your machine will run well for years and your shots will continue tasting right.
Stick to this simple maintenance schedule:
- After every coffee: Remove the used coffee puck, rinse the portafilter and basket, then purge and wipe the steam wand. This helps prevent coffee oils and milk residue from building up.
- Daily: Empty and clean the drip tray, and refill the water tank with fresh water. This keeps your machine cleaner and prevents stale water from sitting.
- Weekly: Give the basket and portafilter a more thorough clean, and brush away loose coffee grounds around the group head. Follow the manufacturer's cleaning instructions for any soaking or cleaning products.
- Every few months: In terms of how often to descale your coffee machine, check the manual to see whether it’s time to descale. If you live in a hard-water area, you may need to do this more often.
Mineral build-up can affect how well your machine heats water and how smoothly it flows through. When it’s time to descale, use a suitable descaler and follow the instructions for your machine. And before attempting a back flush, check that your machine actually supports it. For everyday cleaning, hand wash the water tank and drip tray, then wipe down the machine with a damp cloth.
Troubleshooting: What Your Coffee Is Telling You
A shot that tastes off doesn’t always mean something’s wrong with your machine. Before you start troubleshooting, check your grind size, coffee freshness and whether the machine needs cleaning. Often, a small adjustment is all it takes.
- Watery or sour espresso: Your grind may be too coarse. Try grinding finer first, then adjust the dose if needed.
- Bitter or harsh espresso: Your grind may be too fine, or the shot may be running too long. Try grinding coarser and keep an eye on the shot time.
- Little or no crema: Your beans may be stale, or you may have ground the coffee too far in advance. Try fresher beans and grind them just before brewing.
- Water leaking around the portafilter: Coffee grounds on the basket rim can interfere with the seal. Wipe the rim clean before locking the portafilter into place.
- Weak steam or slow water flow: Mineral build-up may be restricting performance. Check the machine’s instructions and descale if required.
If you’re troubleshooting sour espresso, remember that grind size is only a starting point. Bean freshness, dose, yield, and extraction time all affect flavour, so adjust one thing at a time and taste the result.
Getting More Out of Your Machine
A few useful accessories can make preparing, cleaning and serving coffee easier.
- A coffee grinder: Grinding just before brewing helps preserve aroma and gives you more control. Browse our coffee grinders.
- Coffee-making accessories: Find practical tools for preparation and cleaning in our coffee-making accessories.
- Cups and glasses: Choose the right size for your usual order. Browse our latte glasses, mugs and cups.
Baccarat electrical appliances carry a 12-month guarantee, separate from the Lifetime Guarantee on eligible non-appliance products. Your rights under Australian Consumer Law still apply. Read our warranty information for full details.
Frequently Asked Questions: How to Use a Coffee Machine
1. How do you use a coffee machine for the first time?
Before making your first coffee, fill the tank with fresh water and prime the machine as outlined in the user guide. Run some hot water through the empty portafilter to warm it up, and you’re ready to get brewing.
2. How much coffee goes into a double shot?
A good starting point for a double espresso is 18g of ground coffee, which should give you around 36g in the cup. You can adjust the amount to suit your basket and strength and flavour you prefer.
3. How often should you descale a coffee machine?
How often you need to descale depends on your water and how often you use your machine. Every two to three months is a general guide, but check your user manual for the recommended schedule and which descaler to use.
4. Why does my espresso taste sour or bitter?
If your espresso tastes sour, it may need more extraction; if it tastes bitter, it may have extracted for too long. Try adjusting the grind first, then check how much coffee you’re using and how long the shot takes.
5. Is The Espresso Pro covered by Baccarat’s Lifetime Guarantee?
No, The Espresso Pro is an electrical appliance and is covered by Baccarat’s 12-month guarantee, not its Lifetime Guarantee. Australian Consumer Law rights still apply; check the warranty terms for details.
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