Understanding Espresso: Brew Temperature

Introduction

Brew temperature is a contentious topic among espresso enthusiasts.
Historical context:
- Discussions started on online groups like alt.coffee regarding frustrations with inconsistent temperatures in domestic espresso machines.
- Introduction of PIDs (Proportional-Integral-Derivative controllers) to manage and maintain consistent brew temperatures.
- David Sher was a key figure in promoting flatline temperature brewing for better sweetness and consistency in espresso.

Flatline temperature brewing: delivering a constant temperature throughout the shot.
Temperature profiling: having a natural curve is more important as long as it's consistent.
Few machines purposefully do temperature profiling, leading to a lack of evidence on one curve being superior.
Consistent equipment has improved espresso quality.

Technique to achieve consistent temperature in machines:
- Pull hot water to cool the system down.
- Heat the group head with water before brewing.
Resources for temperature profiling routines are available in online forums like home-barista and coffee geek.

Higher temperatures extract more; adjust temperature based on taste preferences:
- Increase temperature to fix constant unpleasant acidity.
- Decrease temperature to reduce harshness or bitterness.
Suggested temperature ranges:
- 85-90°C for darker roasts.
- 88-92°C for medium roasts.
- 90-95°C for lighter roasts.
Changes of at least 1°C are recommended to notice a significant flavor change.

Example: Starting with a hot initial brew and cooling down for dark roasts reduces bitterness.
Experimental low-temperature brewing (e.g., 80°C) can yield low-acidity, round espressos.
Altitude impacts boiling point but not espresso brewing due to pressurized environment.

Video sponsored by Skillshare, offering educational classes.
Giveaway of five Baratza Encore grinders to participants from eligible countries.

Brew temperature is one of many variables affecting espresso taste.
Personal experimentation and experience are key to understanding how temperature affects your espresso.
Encouragement for viewers to share their thoughts and experiences with brew temperature adjustments.