What is crema in coffee?

What is crema?

Crema is the creamy, reddish-golden froth on the top of your espresso shot. Not only does it look inviting, it’s full of flavour, texture and aromas.

This beautiful foam layer appears when hot water is forced through the coffee grounds at high pressure, emulsifying the coffee bean oils and forming tiny, smooth bubbles. It adds a level of quality and richness that you do not get with other brew methods.  That’s why it has become a sign of the finest authentic-tasting espresso.

How to get the perfect crema

The perfect crema is smooth, foamy, even in colour, and should last for about two minutes before it disappears into your espresso. To achieve a gorgeous crema, there are 5 factors: the beans, the grind, the tamp, the pressure and the temperature. On fully automatic espresso machines, these variables are taken care of, although you can still tinker to explore different results. On a semi automatic espresso machine, you’re right there in the driving seat and can enjoy the process of perfecting a crema-topped shot of dark magic. Let’s take a look at how it works:

What are the best beans for espresso crema?

Freshly roasted beans give off oils and gases that help form lovely, thick espresso foam. It’s not always possible, but using the beans shortly after roasting is ideal for perfect crema consistency. More and more coffee houses are roasting their own coffee beans to be able to serve customers espresso with the most desirable crema.

Even at home though, you can grind your beans just before brewing to keep all their precious ingredients, oils and aromas intact.

Did you know Robusta coffee beans give you the richest crema? Try mixing some with sweet, smooth Arabica beans to find your dream blend.

Explore the types of coffee bean

Tip: Make sure your water isn’t too soft. If you live in a soft water area you may want to use bottled water.

Choosing the right grind

Coffee bean grind size is key to producing natural crema. Too coarse and the water flows through too quickly, the coffee is under extracted and the crema is thin and weak. Too fine and the coffee is over extracted, and the crema uneven and dark. Machines with integrated burr grinders allow you to adjust the size to get the best from your beans.

Discover how to grind coffee at home

Your secret to a firm, even tamp

Tamping is the process of pressing down on the ground coffee in the espresso machine’s portafilter, with a tool called a tamper. This makes sure you get an even and consistent flow of water through your coffee — and a rich crema on top! The portafilter for the KitchenAid semi automatic espresso machine is specially designed with a unique flat base, so your tamp will be impressively uniform and dense. It has recessed spouts and a commercial-grade 58mm diameter to help maintain optimal heat throughout extraction. You’re fully equipped and ready to pull the tastiest espressos with flawless espresso foam. 

Learn how to make espresso at home

The perfect pressure for espresso foam

You only get crema with an espresso machine, as it's a fast, high pressure brewing method. Experts recommend at least 9 bars of pump pressure. What’s a bar? Good question. It’s the measure of atmospheric pressure exerted on the coffee grounds. Hot water is pumped into the pressure chamber, where it gets compressed to around 8 to 10 times that of normal atmospheric pressure. This pressure is essential for flavourful bean extraction, and thick, rich espresso foam. The espresso machines from KitchenAid provide low pressure pre-infusion, and a 15-bar Italian pump to give you optimal pressure for extraction. That means you can effortlessly create a shot of espresso topped with beautiful crema. Definitely something to add to your list of skills.

Keep it hot! Maintaining temperature throughout

The final piece in the espresso crema puzzle is temperature. The water has to be warm enough to caramelise the sugars in the coffee, but not so hot that it spoils the gorgeous flavours. The optimal temperature range for espresso is between 92 and 96 °C. 

Thermocoil technology and smart sensors ensure fast heating and maintain just the right temperature all the way through the process. So you don’t have to wait for your espresso. Perfetto!

illy x KitchenAid are partners in espresso

KitchenAid has teamed up with illy, the beloved Italian coffee company, to create an authentic espresso experience at home. Everything you need is covered: excellent espresso machines and coffee with an Italian DNA. A selection of illy’s Arabica beans are currently available in an Exploration Kit that comes with KitchenAid espresso machines for a limited time. This includes the new Arabica Selection Brasile Cerrado Mineiro, the first coffee sourced entirely including the first ever coffee sourced entirely from regenagri-certified regenerative agriculture. Bring happiness to every sip.