Espress yourself: Christiano Osnato

Christiano Osnato's Domobar espresso machine is considered one of the best home machines around.

Christiano Osnato, who was in Auckland recently, shares his coffee secrets. Christiano runs Vibiemme, the family coffee machine business in Milan. The company's home espresso machine Domobar is considered one of the best home machines around.

What are your coffee-drinking habits?

I only drink espresso. In Italy most people will drink a cappuccino or coffee with milk between 8am and 9am and after that they will only drink espresso.

What's so great about coffee?

Coffee is a taste sensation like no other. I love the unique taste and intense flavours of different coffee. And it always gives you a boost.

Is there such a thing as drinking too much coffee?

I only have two cups a day, compared with my father, who would drink 10. The guys in the Vibiemme factory drink up to 20 cups a day. A lot of people in Italy will drink between 10 and 20 espresso coffees.

Do you ever drink tea?

Yes, but not very often.

What are the secrets to making the perfect espresso?

It's a combination of quality beans and a quality espresso coffee machine. You should use 25ml of water and let the coffee run for 20-25 seconds after you press the start button on the espresso machine. The grind is really important. It needs to be finely ground. The crema will indicate the quality of the coffee. If it is too light it is under-extracted, too dark it is over-extracted and both will mean the coffee will taste bitter. A good espresso coffee will have a dark golden brown crema on the top of the coffee and should have a smooth, rich flavour.

The perfect cafe latte?

In Italy cafe latte is served only in the home, not in the cafe or restaurant. It is made in a mokka maker on the stovetop and the milk is heated separately. It should have an espresso shot in the bottom with a dark golden creamer. The milk should be warm, not too hot and creamy, not fluffy or foamy.

Which country does the best beans?

Central and South America and Kenya. These countries have the optimum growing conditions - they're close to the equator and have high mountain ranges.

What, if anything, should you eat with coffee?

Very dark chocolate.