Cuisinart EM 100 EM-100 Manual - Page 4

CONTENTS Important Safeguards 2 Unpacking Instructions 3 The Quest for the Perfect Cup of Espresso . . 4 Features and Benefits, Diagram 5 Preparing Your Espresso Machine Before Use 6 Guide to the Perfect Espresso 7 Guide to Milk Texturing 8 Using the Hot Water Function 8 Cleaning and Maintenance 9 Recipes 10 Warranty 19 Introduction Congratulations on the purchase of your new Cuisinart® Espresso Maker! You're only minutes away from experiencing the rich, flavorful espresso found in the world's best cafés, right in your own home. Please take a few moments to discover the features of your new espresso maker, and be sure to enjoy every espresso, cappuccino and latte to come! The Quest for the Perfect Cup of ESPRESSO It is generally agreed that there are four basic elements critical to the perfect cup: Element 1: Water When brewing espresso, make sure the water flows through the filter at the correct pace. The water flow can be adjusted by varying the pressure with which the coffee is tamped (pressed down) in the filter or by altering the grind of the coffee. If the speed of the water flow is too slow, the coffee will be overextracted and will be very dark and bitter, with a spotted and uneven crema (froth) on the top. If the speed of the water flow is too fast, the coffee will be under-extracted and the supreme flavor will not develop. The coffee will be diluted and there will be an inadequate amount of crema on the top. Element 2: Coffee While the bulk of the liquid is water, all of the flavor should be from the coffee. To achieve the same great quality of coffee you receive at a café, you need to use the same quality beans. If you choose to grind your own beans, buy the beans fresh and whole, only about a two-week supply at a time for maximum freshness. Once the coffee bean is broken, its flavor degrades very quickly. If it is not practical to buy smaller supplies, we recommend you separate larger amounts of beans and store them in airtight containers in a cool, dry area. They should not be kept for longer than 1 month as flavor will diminish. Do not refrigerate or freeze coffee beans. Element 3: Grind The grind of the coffee is critical for proper flavor extraction. If using a pre-ground coffee, be sure to purchase an espresso grind that is specifically for espresso/cappuccino machines. If the grind is too fine, over-extraction and bitterness will occur with a spotted and uneven crema on the top. If the grind is too coarse, the water will pass through too rapidly and there will be an inadequate amount of crema on the top of the espresso. Element 4: Tamping the Coffee Grounds If you choose to use ground espresso instead of pods, tamping the coffee is a very important part of the coffee making process. Use the scoop supplied to fill the filter basket, then using the tamping tool (flat end of the measuring scoop), tamp (press down) down the grounds with moderate pressure. Add more coffee and tamp again if necessary to bring coffee to level. Do not overfill the filter basket. The ground coffee should be tamped with moderate pressure. If the coffee is not tamped securely, there is a chance that the water will flow through the coffee too rapidly and the coffee will be under-extracted. Note: If the coffee is tamped too firmly, the water will flow through the coffee too slowly and the coffee will be over-extracted.