It might seem redundant to ask the question, "What is espresso?" After all, the difference between drip coffee and espresso is clear to everyone – at least superficially. While filter coffee brews for a long time and ends up in large cups, espresso is all about speed – both in its preparation and its consumption.
It might seem redundant to ask the question, “What is espresso?” After all, the difference between drip coffee and espresso is clear to everyone – at least superficially. While filter coffee brews for a long time and ends up in large cups, espresso is all about speed – both in its preparation and its consumption.
Espresso translates from Italian as “expressly.” In other words, a drink that is expressly prepared at the customer’s request.
It also means that ground coffee is “pressed” here in a special way – namely through a portafilter and under sufficient pressure. So, what is an espresso really? All will be revealed in this guide.
Espresso: The Lowdown
Espresso is a concentrated coffee drink originally hailing from northern Italy.
Chemically, espresso is simultaneously a solution, emulsion and suspension – this accounts for its unique taste and mouthfeel.
One of the most important features of a good espresso is its hazelnut-brown crema (foam layer). As a diagnostic tool, it helps reveal whether the preparation parameters are correct.
The National Institute for Italian Espresso has clear rules for making coffee.
In terms of taste, an ideal espresso is complex, full-bodied and velvety soft. It has multifaceted flavors as well as mild acidity. Oils and bitter substances are in harmony and balance.
How Much Caffeine Is in Espresso?
Espresso has around 273 milligrams of caffeine per 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters), so around 68 milligrams of caffeine per single 0.8-ounce (25 milliliter) shot. At least that’s how it went in my caffeine laboratory test, in which I examined the caffeine content of 15 coffee and espresso drinks.
Still, the number is always going to vary. Because all espresso beans are different. Even when comparing Arabica and Robusta there are huge differences in caffeine levels.
The final caffeine content of your espresso also depends on the extraction and all parameters of the preparation method. Then again, this also applies to drip coffee and other brewing methods.
How Many Espressos Are Too Many?
The question of “How much?” is just as difficult to answer as those surrounding espresso’s caffeine content. Some get an upset stomach after a cup of coffee, others only really get started after the third cup.
However, the biggest problem is the unit of measurement itself. I mean, when we talk about “cups,” we aren’t discussing any of the following:
The volume of liquid
Type of coffee, processing method, roast profile
How your body reacts to caffeine
How much coffee you normally drink
The only sensible information is therefore relative: According to the European Food Safety Authority, 3 mg of caffeine / kg of body weight per day is harmless. In healthy adults, a maximum daily dose of 400 mg is the limit.
So, grab your own cups, prepare your respective types of coffee, drink them carefully and see when you feel whatever difference. This is frustratingly inaccurate. But I think that’s much better than dangerously specific health claims in some media.
The Best Coffee Beans for Espresso
The best high quality coffee beans for brewing espresso come from local roasters, who transparently disclose all the details in terms of their procurement. Otherwise:
Classic Italian espresso has a relatively dark roast profile. For more crema, Arabica coffee beans are often blended with Robusta beans. Such a blend is very strong and rather bitter. However, it is well suited for milk-based espresso drinks.
More modern roasts like my Coffeeness Espresso Blend rely on 100% Arabica and a lighter roast profile. This way, you’ll taste the coffees themselves rather than the roast. Chocolate notes and sweetness should be the focus, meaning the espresso will taste good straight or with milk.
By the way, check out our double-walled espresso glasses. They’ll keep your espresso warm and offer enough space for an espresso macchiato with a dollop of milk foam.
Coffeeness Signature Espresso Blend
Perfectly suited for your Super Automatic Espresso Machine
Notes of Chocolate & Hazelnut
Easy on the stomach
Freshly roasted right in Brooklyn
Medium roast
Espresso Preparation: Three Methods
Of all the types of coffee preparation, espresso is one of the most chemically and physically complex. On the one hand, it is about dissolving substances from the coffee beans in water, on the other hand, about the splitting of certain molecules. What’s more, it’s about the ratio of liquid to solids in the finished cup.
For an optimal espresso, the amount of ground coffee, the temperature, the pressure and the volume of water must be right. And that’s where an espresso machine comes into play.
Espresso From an Espresso Machine
In a manual or semi-automatic espresso machine, hot water at 201 degrees Fahrenheit (94 degrees Celsius) under 9 bars of pressure is forced through a compacted puck of finely ground coffee beans. The espresso goes straight from the portafilter into the espresso cup.
This pressure-based process also creates the coffee crema. This foam layer has its own complex taste and is also a good visual indicator of the quality of your extraction. Check out my guide to making the perfect espresso for more details.
My suggestions for optimal espresso preparation:
Very fine grind (depending on roast date and profile)
7-9 grams for a single shot
Espresso volume of 0.8 ounces (25 milliliters)
Constant brewing temperature of 201 degrees Fahrenheit (94 degrees Celsius)
Espresso From a Fully Automatic Coffee Machine
Practically every model in my super automatic coffee machine guide makes a great “espresso-style” coffee. Because the fact remains that coffee from a fully automatic machine is never true espresso – the brewing process is not sophisticated enough.
However, there are hardly any differences in the implementation, as long as you set your fully automatic machine correctly:
Finest grind setting
Ground coffee amount set to highest level
Espresso volume set to 0.8 ounces (25 milliliters)
Highest temperature setting
Espresso from a Moka Pot
The stovetop espresso maker or moka pot is a cheap and simple alternative to the types of machines mentioned above. As with an espresso machine, you first put the ground coffee beans into a metal filter basket.
However, in this case the water is heated under the filter basket. As soon as it has reached boiling point, it rises with a little pressure up through the coffee grounds and ends up in the top chamber. During this process the maximum pressure achieved is around 1.5 bar.
However, this is at least enough to tease out the classic flavor of a typical espresso bean. In addition, aluminum Italian moka pots such as the Bialetti are indestructible, affordable and available in different sizes. No wonder that the majority of Italians prefer their espresso maker to a complicated and expensive machine.
How to Caffè Espresso: Finely Ground Coffee Meets Water
Good espresso shots start with coffee that’s been ground correctly. In other words, finely enough and with sufficient consistency and precision. That’s because the compacted puck of ground coffee forms a barrier against the pressurized water, providing the necessary resistance, and therefore ensuring a good extraction.
The finer the grind, the slower the water flows. Coffee for espresso is ground much finer than beans for pour over coffee. Therefore, it’s important to get hold of a burr coffee grinder that’s capable of delivering the goods. You’ll only find out whether your grind size is correct during extraction. However, if the coffee is slightly lumpy as it falls into the portafilter, you’re on the right track.
In addition, I strongly advise you to use a coffee scale when preparing espresso. It not only determines the correct weight of the beans, but also helps with the cup quantity. Trust me, if you weigh your shots as they’re extracting, you’ll have more control over your espresso’s consistency.
Coffee Specialties: Different Types of Espresso
Espresso is the base for an infinite number of coffee beverages, including well-known classics like the latte macchiato and cappuccino. Here are a few more espresso specialties to consider:
Lungo: A long-pulled shot
Ristretto: A short-pulled (restricted) shot
Doppio: A 2-ounce (60-milliliter) double espresso
Espresso Corretto: With a shot of grappa
Marocchino: Espresso with milk foam and chocolate
Espresso Macchiato: With a little milk foam
Espresso Martini: cocktail of vodka, espresso, coffee liqueur and simple syrup
Espresso Tonic: Long drink with coldpresso, tonic water and lime
Dirty Chai: Chai latte with a shot of espresso
Frappuccino: Double espresso, milk, caramel syrup and cocoa powder and mixed with ice cubes
Conclusion: Dare to Experiment!
Espresso is like the essence of coffee preparation: a lot can go wrong as you strive for perfection. And there are endless opportunities for experimenting with your recipe, coffee bean selection, extraction time and so on.
This may scare a lot of people. Still, even if the crema doesn’t show up or your doppio looks like a cup of brewed coffee, espresso always remains a top choice – whether from a fully automatic machine or an espresso machine.
How do you prepare espresso? Do you have any tips you’d like to share? Feel free to leave me a comment!
What Is Espresso FAQ
Put simply, espresso differs from regular coffee in that its preparation requires a very fine grind size, different ratio of coffee to water and 9 bars of pressure.
Espresso is a concentrated form of coffee that’s served in small demitasse cups. It’s also the base for many popular coffee drinks including latte and cappuccino.
Espresso typically has a lot more caffeine per ounce than drip coffee. However, a single shot of espresso will have less caffeine than a full cup of coffee.
