This is a great question! I don’t know!

It’s a while. I have a lever espresso machine; it takes a good 15-20 minutes for the boiler to come up to pressure. I can use much of that for prep, though, so once it hits 1.25 bar, I’m ready to pull a shot. The actual shot is about 30 seconds, so to get an espresso, no faster than 15½ minutes. I’m usually making cappuccinos these days, but steaming milk from that giant boiler only takes 30s or so. Pouring has to be less than 15s. Cleanup does take a minute, mainly b/c of the milk pitcher, which I fully wash. Rinsing the portafilter takes a hot second. I usually empty the knock box as needed as part of the prep.

I used to do this daily for several years; get up, fill (if necessary) and turn on boiler, then go do something else to get ready for work.

My time? A minute or a little over to prep the shot, maybe a couple extra seconds because I pour milk while it’s pulling. A few seconds to steam, a few more to pour. A minute or two for clean up. Maybe 10 minutes on those days I’m emptying the knock box, washing out the drip tray, wiping up the counter that’s accumulated coffee dust - but that’s just kitchen maintenance, and I don’t think that counts as “time to make an espresso”.

So: around 20 minutes, all in. If the boiler is heated and we count my time prepping and cleaning, probably 3-4 minutes.

James is a perfectionist; he’s going to take longer to do almost everything.