This game-changing coffee maker trick means you’ll never drink bitter espresso again

A espresso with late art on the top in a white coffee cup and saucer next to a hessian sack and coffee beans
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Whether you can’t start the day without a short intense shot of espresso or you find the only way to avoid the post-lunch slump is with a creamy, long latte, many of us enjoy our daily caffeine fix in the form of coffee. 

One of the best espresso machines can ensure that no matter how many times a day you indulge in a cup of java, it won’t be hurting your wallet as much as constantly heading to the nearest coffee shop. 

Given Americans now drink 50% more espresso-based hot drinks (including cappuccinos, lattes, and flat whites) than in 2015 according to the National Coffee Association, this is a big saving.

However, brewing the perfect coffee in an espresso machine every time might not be as simple as you first thought. 

Lots of aspects can affect the strength of the coffee, such as how tightly compacted the puck (the disc of ground coffee water is pushed through) is and the volume of water in use, but what about bitterness? 

There’s nothing worse than going to all the effort of brewing yourself an espresso, only to take a big sip and discover it’s extremely bitter and not worth the sippin’. 

If this happens to you regularly, then listen up:  a coffee expert at De’Longhi has shared with us a game-changing tip that means you’ll be able to put an end to bitter coffee. 

Best espresso machine deals

Read on to discover the game-changing trick for ensuring your espresso isn’t bitter, or if you’ve already decided you want to invest in an air fryer, check out the best prices right now:   

It's all in the temperature

Many of the best espresso machines on the market allow you to customize different aspects of the coffee brewing process. For example, most machines use a predefined amount of water when brewing espresso, but it’s also possible to override this (and even set your preferred amount as the default) if you prefer a stronger or weaker coffee. 

As we’ve already mentioned, how tightly compacted the ground coffee is will also affect the strength of the espresso  - more loosely compacted coffee will result in a weaker brew, while those that prefer a stronger espresso should make sure the ground coffee is heavily pressed together.

But what about how bitter coffee tastes? According to Matt Randle, De’Longhi’s coffee expert, before you blame the bean and start looking for a different variety of coffee, try changing the temperature of the water used to brew the coffee - another function most espresso machines offer - as this changes the way it tastes.  

“The hotter the water, the more energy it contains to extract flavor from the coffee. However, if we extract too much flavor we can bring bitterness out in the cup,” he told TechRadar.

“One way of reducing that bitterness is reducing the temperature of the brewing water”.

Given this seems such a simple trick, we had to give it a go. The espresso machine we were testing at the time, De’Longhi La Specialista Arte EC9155MB, offers three different brewing temperatures; Min, Med and Max for the water inside the thermoblock (the heating system the water passes through before being pushed through the ground coffee). 

De’Longhi says the min temperature option on this espresso machine is 198 F / 92 C, while the Max is 96 C/ 205 F and the Med temperature sits between the two at 201 F / 94 C, so there’s a decent amount of space for experimentation.

Using the same amount of ground coffee, and the same grind level (as the espresso machine comes with an integrated bean grinder) and the same volume of water  - 1.2 fl oz / 35 ml, which is the espresso machine’s default volume - we brewed three espressos one after the after each at a different temperature and compared the taste.  

The De'Longhi La Specialista Arte espresso machine on a countertop surrounded by coffee

(Image credit: De'Longhi)

Verdict

When myself and my partner, who’s a big coffee fan, sipped the three espressos, there was a difference in the bitterness of the coffee brewed using the minimum and maximum temperatures - with the espresso brewed at a lower temperature tasting ever-so-slightly sweeter than the one that used hot water. 

I preferred the sweeter espresso - although I often add plenty of milk to my coffee rather, so that comes as no surprise. However, my partner (who’s more inclined to add just a dash of milk to his coffee) thought the coffee brewed at a higher temperature was the more preferable of the two.  

Of course, there is one drawback to using a lower temperature to brew the coffee - we found it didn’t stay hot as long as the espresso brewed at a higher temperature. 

Let’s face it: no-one likes picking up their cup only to discover the hot drink is lukewarm at best - it’s even more of an issue if you prefer adding cold milk rather than texturized warm milk to your coffee too. 

However, according to Randle, preheating the cup will ensure this is no longer an issue. Preheating the cup is easy - just press the brew button as usual, but without adding any ground coffee into the portafilter (the basket in which the ground coffee sits).

Hot water will flow into the cup and when the brewing process has finished, throw away the water and brew espresso as usual. 

This will ensure that the espresso is dispensed into a warm cup and won’t cool down as quickly as in a cup that hasn’t been pre-heated. 

The perfect cup of coffee is a very personal thing and will differ from person to person. However, if you find the coffee you’re brewing at home is just a little too bitter for your tastes, then definitely try reducing the temperature before heading to the grocery store in search of a different type of coffee bean. 

Carrie-Ann Skinner

Carrie-Ann Skinner was formerly Homes Editor at TechRadar, and has more than two decades of experience in both online and print journalism, with 13 years of that spent covering all-things tech. Carrie specializes in smart home devices such as smart plugs and smart lights, as well as large and small appliances including vacuum cleaners, air fryers, stand mixers, and coffee machines. Carrie is now a copy editor at PWC.

Read more
Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ espresso machine on green background
The best espresso machine 2025: manual and automatic machines tested by experts
Breville The Barista Touch Impress coffee maker on blue background
The best coffee maker 2025: expert tested espresso and drip machines
Woman sitting on sofa making a disgusted face while holding a cup of coffee
Are you one of the 39% of coffee drinkers who still use instant? Upgrading to one of these three cheap coffee machines will deliver a better-tasting brew
Aarke Coffee System on orange background
The best drip coffee maker 2025: delicious, fuss-free coffee, fast
Breville Barista Touch Express Impress machine on pink and purple background
The best bean-to-cup coffee machine 2025: quick and convenient coffee makers tested
Jura J10 coffee maker on kitchen counter
I wasn't a fan of syrup in coffee until I tried the Jura J10 espresso machine – here's why
Latest in Coffee Machines
The De'Longhi Magnifica Evo on a pink background with text saying Lowest Price.
The stylish De'Longhi Magnifica Evo is down to its lowest-ever price at Amazon
Jura J10 coffee maker on kitchen counter
I wasn't a fan of syrup in coffee until I tried the Jura J10 espresso machine – here's why
The Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine on a purple background with text saying Don't Miss.
The excellent Breville Barista Express coffee maker is back to its Black Friday price
De’Longhi La Specialista Touch coffee machine with drinks on kitchen counter
De'Longhi's new bean-to-cup coffee machine could make you a milk-frothing maestro
Siemens EQ900 Plus coffee maker with coffee beans and milk bottle
I've tested a lot of coffee machines, and the Siemens EQ900 Plus makes the best macchiato I've tasted
Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ coffee maker on teal background with white text reading 'TechRadar don't miss'
This little Nespresso machine is so cheap for Presidents' Day, I wish I didn't already own one
Latest in How Tos
Trinity Rodman #2 of the Washington Spirit crosses the ball during a game between Bay FC and Washington Spirit at Audi Field on November 10, 2024 in Washington, DC.
National Women's Soccer League 2025: How to watch NWSL games live from anywhere
AMD Radeon RX 6000 Series Graphics Card on top wooden desk beside a keyboard
How to update AMD GPU drivers
tiktok
How to edit TikTok videos
Using an Amazon Fire Stick on a Smart TV
How to use a VPN with Fire Stick
Irish boxer TJ Doheny receives an undercard bout, ahead of the WBO super welterweight world title fight in March, 2023
Ball vs Doheny live stream: how to watch the boxing from anywhere now, full undercard, start time, weigh-in results
 Facebook social media app logo on log-in, sign-up registration page
How to delete all your Facebook posts