Temperature - Freshness - Grind - Cleanliness

Some days I feel I should simply run one of those self repeating tapes, because I can guarantee almost without exception that one of the above crucial areas has not been attended to and this in turn has had a dramatically negative effect on the quality of the drink in the cup. So at the risk of repeating myself, if you enjoy great coffee, please pay attention to the following:

1. Temperature - The correct water temperature is crucial to the successful extraction of flavour from the coffee. 88 - 92 degress centrigrade are the golden numbers. To achieve this temperature though you must ensure that the whole machine is warm. This means running a large cupful of water through the espresso machine prior to making a cup of coffee. It's vital that all group heads and handles are hot, otherwise you will affect the coffee flavour.

2. Freshness - There are two areas here, freshness of both water and coffee. Water is usually only a problem if the machine hasn't been used for a day or so. This results in the water going "flat", and this will be reflected in the cup. So ideally you want fully oxygenated water to achieve the best flavour.

Coffee freshness is a little more obvious. Look to see if there is a "roasted on" date on the bag. The nearer to the roasting date the fresher the taste is going to be. For most people who buy coffee off the supermarket shelf, it is crucial that the coffee is used within a week of the packet being opened. Careful storeage is also crucial - oxygen is the enemy of ground coffee and destroys its flavour.

3. Grind - Always ensure that the coffee is correctly ground. A shot of espresso coffee that doesn't take between 20 and 30 seconds to brew will either taste bitter and burnt, or alternatively just watery. If you're grinding your own coffee, keep an eye on those blades.

4. Cleanliness - Well they say that cleanliness is next to Godliness, and the same is true of great coffee. Always ensure that the group head, group handles and steam wand are cleaned regularly with appropriate detergent; the grinder too if you have one. If you don't you end up with a coffee that can have a stale, bitter taste, or a taste of burnt milk, the flavour combinations are endless, but sadly have little to do with great espresso!

That's it in brief - There are many other issues to consider, however if you get the above right you are at least in with a fighting chance of creating a great cup of coffee.