How to Make the Perfect Espresso at Home.

Espresso making is both a science and art that requires experimentation and creativity to achieve the perfect cup at home. Although every espress-ionado will have their own secret methods for the perfect coffee, we've made it easy for you with some simple homemade tips. From choosing a nice coffee bean to grinding it just right, every step requires both precision and space for your own artistic flair.

Photo credit: Starbucks.

1. The Coffee
A good cup of coffee, whether it is an espresso, drip, press or sweeter concoction, always starts with a fresh coffee roast. Everybody has their own preferences and it will take some experimentation. Just look for a coffee bean with a dark roast as these tend to be more complex, deep chocolatey flavors. Darker roasts are the signature of espressos. However, if you prefer fruity and floral espresso aromas, by all means choose a lighter roast.

2. The Extraction and Grind
Once you've found your ideal coffee bean, it's time to grind them to perfection. Fine grinding is one of the most important and signature aspects of an espresso. In sum, it allows for a fuller flavor and aroma. The standard extraction time is 30 seconds of water flowing per cup. Too much will weaken a coffee and too little will give your espresso little room to sing.

However, this extraction timing has everything to do with the grind. A finer grind of coffee will need a shorter water extraction time. We recommend using a burr grinder when making your fine espresso powder, as this tends to allow for a much more even grind that won't heat and overcook your coffee before it has even met the machine.

Gong Yoo for Maxim Kanu.

 3. The Dose
The dose and recipe depends entirely on your machine setup, grind consistency and water temperature. Nevertheless, getting the proper dose of coffee should align more or less with the traditional Italian method of a 30ml double espresso which is made from a 14g dose of ground coffee. You can up the dosage to 18g or even as far as your machine basket will allow. Experiment and record your results for the perfect cup every time.

4. The Machine and Equipment
For the uninitiated, The Coffee Maven's guide to espresso machines outlines the pros and cons of each variety of machine. Stove-top machines like mochas can be a quick solution for strong cups of coffee, but they can't get the depths of an espresso machine. If you're using stove-top pots, be sure to use filtered water and freshly ground coffee, and be doubly sure to clean your pot well. Likewise, if you are using a press style setup, use 60g of coffee per liter of boiled water with an extraction time of 2 minutes.

Gong Yoo for Maxim Kanu.

5. Basket Care
Looking after the basket which holds your ground coffee is important. Be sure to clean them rigorously to prevent any residue from tainting your coffee or pouring unevenly. Likewise, you need to keep your ground coffee evenly contained and uniform within the basket. Always give your coffee a firm packing down to ensure an even extraction.

For the Kdrama Addict | Places to Visit in Korea.

Now that more and more Korean dramas (Kdramas) have achieved international success, Korean film tours are gaining popularity as well. Through these film tours, fans get to see the filming locations of their favorite TV shows, and allow them to relive the scenes in their favorite Kdramas.

If you're visiting Korea and planning to go on a film tour, here are some places that you might want to add to your itinerary.

1. The First Shop of Coffee Prince. (Hongdae, Mapo-gu, Seoul.)
Aired in 2007, The First Shop of Coffee Prince is perhaps one of the most popular Kdramas as far as gender bender plots are concerned. The set of The First Shop of Coffee Prince was an actual cafe in Hongdae that had been remodeled as a set for the drama. Both the exterior and interior of the cafe have been completely overhauled to recreate the scenes in the drama, and was reopened as soon as the drama ended.

The First Shop of Coffee Prince.

2. Bukchon Hanok Village. (Gahoe-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.)
The Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul is the city's last neighborhood with a high concentration of traditional homes, called hanok. I read an article that traditional houses often need a lot of upkeep. Hanoks are no exception being dedicated to preserving traditional Korean architecture. Made of clay, wood, and stone, hanoks are typically single-story structures that have heated floors and curved tile roofs. Popular dramas that have been filmed in Bukchon include Winter Sonata (2002), My Name is Kim Sam Soon (2005), Personal Taste (2010), and Heartstrings (2011).

Bukchon Hanok Village.

3. Petit France. (Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do.)
I first saw this place in the variety show 'Running Man', but it was actually the hit drama 'My Love from the Star' that made this French cultural village even more popular. Located in the province of Gyeonggi-do - about one hour away from Seoul - the village consists of 16 French-style buildings where visitors can lodge, enjoy French food, and experience French culture. Also featured in the village is a memorial hall dedicated to Antoine Saint-Exupery, author of the world-famous French novel Le Petit Prince.

Petit France.

4. Hwajinpo Beach. (Goseong-gun, Gangwon-do.)
The most northern beach in South Korea, Hwajinpo Beach was the site of the last scene in Autumn in My Heart (2000), where the two lovers portrayed by Song Hye Kyo and Song Seung Heon spent their last moments together. This heartbreaking and unforgettable scene invites a trail of visitors with its clean, shallow water, and a majestic view of the mountains and the East Sea.

Hwajinpo Beach.

5. Korean Folk Village. (Yong-in, Gyeonggi-do.)
The mecca of historical drama (think Dae Jang Geum, Jumong, Sungkyunkwan Scandal)  and the epicenter of Korean wave, the Korean Folk Village has over 260 traditional houses reminiscent of the late Joseon dynasty. Visitors get to experience the customs and lifestyle of Korea's past generations, and gain a broad understanding of Korean food, clothing, and home life from the past.

Korean Folk Village.

The list goes on, actually. But for now I'm narrowing them to five. Korea reels with film locations, and you may even chance upon them without even knowing it! When in Korea, keep your eyes peeled for banners and tarpaulins with photos of your favorite stars. Who knows, the restaurant you might be dining in right now was actually a film location. :)