The Nespresso Hack You Need For Effortlessly Better Coffee

For those seeking to enjoy quality espresso from the comfort of their kitchens, the Nespresso brand produces some of the most popular espresso machines around. This classic company has been serving up shots since 1986 with the debut of its first machine, the C-100, and its roster has only grown in size since. While these gadgets conveniently do the majority of the work for you, pulling warm, velvety espresso shots with the click of a button, there are some things users can do to make these beverages taste even better. (And don't worry, they're pretty effortless.)

A lot can make or break a cup of espresso, even your tap water, but temperature is one of the biggest factors of all. Without using the right heating techniques, espresso will taste much more flat and bitter. Nespresso machines typically brew espresso around 78 – 86 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the machine model — an ideal temperature range in which the liquid will properly extract without getting burned. However, for an even smoother pull, you should start running hot water through your Nespresso first before pulling your shot of espresso. This simple action brings the entire Nespresso machine up to those ideal temperatures, making that irresistible golden nectar pull effortlessly out of the entire machine from start to finish. 

Espresso machines have a much easier time extracting when they're warmed up, giving your coffee a better texture and flavor. So, if you want to forgo any excess bitterness for sweetness and smoothness, you might want to add this step to your morning espresso ritual. 

Every Nespresso model is different, and each has a unique way of extracting plain hot water from the machine. Most models are very simplistic, and only require you to fill up the water reservoir with fresh water, remove any pods from the chamber, and hit the button once. Then, hot water will flow through the machine. For others, like the VertuoPlus,you'll also need to fill up the water reservoir with water and remove any pods from the chamber, but then press the top button three times in succession. Make sure to put an empty cup on the cup support to catch the excess water. 

Whatever action your machine calls for, the warm water will flow throughout the machine and clean out any excess grounds, lime scale, or other debris inside while heating up the Nespresso, making for a much smoother pull the next time your brew. Now you can select your pod and pull a real espresso shot with a better flavor. 

While you might not want to wait an extra five minutes for coffee every morning, this hack for better espresso is perfect for those days when you're not in a rush and ready to fully sink into the start of the day with a really great shot of espresso. Then, for all you Keurig loyalists, it's worth discussing how to make better coffee next. (Hint: you'll need two coffee pods.)