What makes a gourmet espresso shot? Fresh, rich coffee beans, finely-ground are tamped down by hand to 30 lbs of pressure. Next, the gourmet machine forces high-pressure hot water through the compressed puck of coffee to extract the thick, multi-textured, bold flavor. An expertly drawn espresso will have three different layers: the thicker, darker bottom layer; the thinner, lighter colored body; and the crema, the foamy golden top layer. The artistic skills of a trained barista create the many variations of espresso drinks by adding varying amounts of steaming or frothing milk.