Using the lever coffee machine is not at all as difficult as you think.
If you have tried several times to make coffee but it never came out perfect, you might be doing something wrong.
You should know that before you can make really good coffee, you will need to practice a little and follow a few tips.
First of all, in order to be able to make a great coffee you need to be familiar with the machine you are using.
If you don’t know how to use all the tools, how can you expect to achieve an excellent result?
The mechanism to make it work is based on two elements in particular: the cylinder and the piston.
When you lower the lever, the piston rises, leaving a hole through which the water from the boiler flows. The cylinder is then filled with the water needed to make the coffee you want.
The water in the boiler always remains clean, because it only flows in one direction. So there is no danger of finding coffee residues in the water.
These are just some of the features that make a professional coffee machine the right choice for making perfect coffee.
What are our tricks?
If you have already tried making a few coffees but are not convinced by the result, try following this little guide.
Remember that it is the small details that distinguish good coffee from perfect coffee.
Use the right amount of coffee
The first thing you need to do to make perfect coffee with lever machines is to make sure you weigh the right amount of coffee.
It may sound crazy, but using more or less grams of coffee can totally change its consistency and taste.
To make sure you don’t get it wrong, get a kitchen scale and weigh out the coffee scoop before you make the drink.
Pour it slowly. For a perfect coffee you will need to use 7.5 grams.
This step is very simple but crucial, it can really change the final result.
Pressing not too hard and flat
Once you have poured the right amount of coffee, take the press.
Make sure you place it firmly on the scoop and do not make any sudden movements.
Pressing should not be excessive and should only be done on level ground to avoid unevenness.
Then take the filter holder and insert the measuring cup. To position it precisely, make circular movements with your fingers. The coffee in the filter should be evenly distributed.
By pressing you can correct a possible grinding error.
If you find yourself grinding too thickly, you can apply more force and vice versa.
Lower the lever and respect the 25 seconds
After making sure that you have positioned the tools correctly, insert the filter holder into the machine. machine. Press firmly and forcefully by turning it to the right.
Then place the coffee cup in position and lower the lever completely.
Wait three seconds and raise the lever so that it is halfway straight.
Now the coffee will start to come out.
In order to do a precise job, you must observe the following rule:
25 seconds of extraction for 25 cc of espresso.
If the time is longer, the grind will be too fine.
Finally, remove the cup and place a container or glass in the cup to catch any spillage of coffee, so as not to dirty the machine.
How can you recognise perfect coffee?
We have told you how to make perfect coffee.
But we have not clarified one important thing: what do we mean by the term ‘perfect‘?
The answer can be subjective, because everyone has different tastes, but there are some unmistakable features.
You can usually recognise a perfect espresso by these 4 characteristics: crema, aroma, taste and aftertaste.
The cream
When coffee is really well made, the cream is dense, low.
It has a hazelnut colour with slightly reddish highlights. You can only see the coffee underneath by stirring the cream with a the cream with a teaspoon, otherwise not.
If the crema is not present there may be some problems:
- the machine is not working properly;
- the coffee used is old;
- the coffee has not been brewed properly;
- the weight is not correct.
The aroma
The aroma of perfect coffee is unmistakable. It is intense, strong, powerful.
If a coffee is good, you can smell it even from a distance. It usually lingers for about ten seconds even after swallowing.
What you smell is a mixture of scents (fruit, toast, chocolate). However, when a coffee is not good, the aroma is very faint, hardly noticeable.
The Taste
The taste is bitter, but also acidic and sweet.
As soon as you sip the coffee you can feel the bitter taste, but after a few seconds you will feel a more acidic, sometimes sweetish taste. There has to be a balance. The body, on the other hand, is consistent and velvety.
Everyone can add sugar to their liking if they don’t like the bitter taste. If the coffee is perfect, however, it doesn’t need it, it can be enjoyed better without adding sweeteners.
The aftertaste
Drinking coffee is a sensory experience from start to finish, but not only that. Even after drinking it, it leaves something behind: a vivid, sweet but intense aftertaste. It should persist for at least a few hours.
The aftertaste you get is spicy, fruity, but this also depends a lot on the blend used.
These are the most important factors. As you can see, the result does not depend only on the machine you use, but also on you.
Not all lever machines are the same
As you may have noticed, using a lever coffee machine is very simple.
Of course, to get a good coffee you have to be careful, but this has to be done regardless of the machine.
The lever machine is an investment of time and money.
However, not all machines on the market work in the same way or are of good quality.
To make a coffee as good as the one you drink at the bar, you need to make sure that your lever machine is up to the task.
Our lever machines are made of brass and sheet steel. They’re stylish, but they’re also durable and designed to last, just like Pavia’s Ponte Vecchio.
As our name suggests, we reflect very much on the history of this bridge, which combines ancient values with a luxurious aesthetic. It is sturdy and solid, but it is also picturesque, elegant and timeless. It is not perfect, it is uneven at times, but it is unique and was born from the ashes of an ancient era.
Our lever coffee machines are also made of solid materials, but they are elegant and refined.
If you would also like to buy a handcrafted lever coffee machine, discover the products in our online shop.
