Espresso Mistakes Beginners Make
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(And how to fix them easily)
Making espresso at home can feel intimidating.
You follow a recipe, use good coffee… and the shot still tastes wrong.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
Most espresso problems come from a few very common mistakes.
1. Using the wrong grind size
This is the biggest mistake by far.
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Too coarse → sour, fast shots
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Too fine → bitter, slow shots
Espresso requires a fine, precise grind — and small adjustments make a big difference.
2. Blaming the machine instead of the grind
Many beginners think bad espresso means:
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the machine isn’t good enough
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the pressure is wrong
In reality, grind size and dose usually matter more than the machine itself
3. Not measuring anything
Eyeballing coffee and water leads to inconsistent results.
You don’t need fancy tools — just be consistent:
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same dose
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same grind
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same brew time
Consistency is how good espresso is made
4. Changing too many things at once
When a shot tastes bad, it’s tempting to change everything.
That makes it impossible to learn.
💡 Fix one variable at a time:
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grind size
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dose
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yield
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time
5. Using old or pre-ground coffee
Even the best espresso machine can’t fix stale coffee.
Whole beans, ground fresh, make a noticeable difference in flavor and crema.
👉 Want to go deeper?
Here’s how to fix your espresso grind and balance sour vs bitter shots.
☕ Good espresso comes from understanding the basics — not from expensive gear.