How to improve the coffee of my Philips Barista Brew Espresso Machine

Your Philips Barista Brew Espresso Machine comes with different filter baskets.

Single-wall basket for 1 or 2 cups:
With single-wall baskets like those of professional coffee bar machines, you have better control of the crema coffee you brew, but you might need to experiment to get it to your liking.
 
Double-wall basket for 1 or 2 cups: 
If you want to experiment less and still get a consistent coffee taste and crema, we recommend that you use the double-wall filter baskets.
 

Using fresh beans or pre-ground coffee can both bring the optimal brewing results, as long the right grind size is applied. When the ground coffee is too fine, it can result in higher pressure, longer brewing time and a bitter or even burnt taste. Likewise, too coarse and the coffee will taste watery and bitter due to under-extraction, low pressure and shorter brewing time.
 
The integrated grinder of the Philips Barista Brew Espresso Machine gives you the option to grind the beans to a finer or coarser grind. You can choose from 15 different grind settings: the lower the number indication on the bean container, the finer the coffee beans are ground and the stronger the coffee.
 
Read to the end of the article for our Extraction guide table.
 

Two of the most important parts of making a great coffee with your machine are the tamping and dosing of the pre-ground coffee.
 
Using too much force and coffee amount can lead to higher pressure, longer brewing times and over-extraction, which can make your coffee taste bitter or even burnt. On the other hand, too little force and an insufficient amount of coffee will lower the pressure and shorten brewing time, making it under-extracted with a bitter and watery taste. 
 
We recommend that you use the right amount of coffee for 1 cup/2 cups. You can use the max level printed inside the baskets as a reference for the right amount of coffee. Apply enough force so that the top edge of the metal cap on the tamper is level with the top of the portafilter holder. The calibrated tamper helps you to control the force.
 

A. Correct Extraction (within Espresso Range)

• Steady flow starts after a few seconds.
• Rich and velvety crema.
• The espresso is dark brown.
• Extraction takes 20-30 seconds.

• Remove used grinds.
• Rinse the filter basket.

• Flow starts immediately and goes fast like water
• Crema is thin and pale.
• Espresso is pale brown.
• Tastes sour/sharp, weak and watery.
• Extraction takes less than 20 seconds.

• Grind finer (smaller grind size number).
• Increase ground coffee dose.
• Tamp properly.

• Flow drips or not at all.
• Crema is dark and spotty.
• The espresso is very dark brown.
• Tastes bitter and burnt.
• Extraction takes more than 40 seconds.

• Grind coarser.
• Decrease ground coffee dose.