Choosing the right beans

Get the most of your Oracle® espresso machine by choosing the right beans. According to professional roaster Paul Geshos, the founder/owner of Mecca Sydney, it's all about freshness—though not too fresh. Coffee beans are at their peak flavor 5 to 30 days after roasting. Any sooner than 5 days and the coffee is still settling, which can make your espresso unbalanced and difficult to dial in. If it's been more than 30 days, the beans begin to lose their flavor due to oxidation, causing the delicate aromatics to degrade. Choosing the right beans also depends on the type of coffee you want to make and your flavor preference. For espresso with a medium to heavy body and round, sweet flavors, look for coffee beans that are low in acidity, usually from South American countries like Brazil and Colombia. In contrast, coffee beans from Ethiopia and Kenya are higher in acidity, giving them floral and delicate notes such as stone fruit and citrus. For even more taste complexity, it's common to blend multiple varietals, allowing you to experiment with different combinations.