Unpack the machine from the box. In the small box you will find a portafilter, 1 x 1 cup filter basket, 1 x 2 cup filter basket, a long handled measuring spoon, a ‘Crema Enhancing Disk’ and a ‘Froth Enhancing Cylinder’. You can forget about the last 2 items, although the Crema disk makes a good pad to rest the portafilter on.

Open the water tank cover, remove both tubes from the tank, lift out the tank and fill it with water. Replace the tank and put the tubes back in. Plug in the machine and turn it on; the indicator light above the steam knob will come on. When this light goes out, it indicates that correct temperature has been reached, and the machine is ready to run.

To prime the pump, push the steam wand towards the rear so that it’s over the drip tray. Open the steam knob up then turn on the brew switch. When water squirts from the steam wand, close the steam knob. Water should then start running from the brew head. Wait a couple of seconds then turn the brew switch off. You are now ready to brew.

Coffee for espresso should be ground very fine, and included with your machine is some free coffee to get you started. You should look closely at the grind of this coffee; rub some between your thumb and forefinger, and it will feel like a slightly gritty powder. For optimum brewing results your coffee should always be ground like this.

Place a filter basket into the portafilter. Using the measuring spoon add 1 flat scoop of coffee (7g) for the single filter, or 2 flat scoops (14g) for the double filter. Tamp the coffee firmly into the basket by pushing the portafilter up into the tamper. The coffee level should be 2 – 3mm below the rim of the basket. Brush excess coffee from the rim of the portafilter using the flat of your hand.

Push the portafilter up into the brewhead, sealing it in firmly by turning the handle to the right; it should be a fraction to the right of square. Place a cup under the portafilter, then turn on the brew switch. If everything else has been done correctly, it should take between 20 – 25 seconds from the time the switch is pressed to produce 60ml of coffee for a double or 30ml of coffee for a single. Faster than this and you need a finer grind or a firmer tamp; slower a coarser grind or lighter tamp. Your espresso should have a rich, reddish brown crema on top. The above applies whichever filter basket is used.

When your coffee is brewed, turn off the brew switch. You can remove the portafilter immediately. You can brew 2 cups at once by using the double filter and a cup under each spout of the portafilter, but it takes considerable tamping practice to get an even flow from both spouts. It’s often easier to brew into a single cup then pour half the coffee into the second cup.