Which Coffee For Espresso Should You Get: A Quick Guide
Espressos may just be the best energy boost for the person on the go. Nowadays, you can buy them at almost every cafe you find. These strong cups of caffeine are loved by a lot of people around the world. Everyone should have the option to enjoy a shot of espresso in the comfort of their own home. The best thing about it is: you can use ANY COFFEE for making your own espresso. It’s just a matter of how you make it and how you like it.
Knowing My Espresso
Despite common belief, espresso is not made from a different type of coffee bean. What makes espresso unique is how it is made. There are espresso beans available in the market, which are specially made to pair well with milk. But let’s understand our options first.
Ingredients
Espresso is pretty much like every other type of coffee. It is made from coffee beans and water. The technical part important to making espresso is in the process. For example, the water must be nearly boiling but not actually boiling.
Process
The word espresso is actually shortened from an Italian word that means “to press out.” The process of making espresso uses pressure to press nearly boiling water through “cakes” or packs of finely ground coffee beans. Making espresso can be guided by the 4 “M” rules.
- Miscela (Mixture) - Choose the right blend of coffee beans for the espresso
- Macinazione (Milling) - Grind the coffee beans to the correct size
- Macchina (Machine) - Use a standardized machine that utilizes stable temperature and pressure
- Man (Manual Skills)- Finish preparing the espresso with patience and practice
Taste
The espresso is known for its rich and concentrated taste. There’s a huge difference in taste compared to regular brewed coffee. This is because 12% of the coffee beans are dissolved in espresso. Only 2% of dissolved coffee solids are left in brewed coffee. A good cup of espresso is not just the taste, however. The flavor of the espresso is based on the taste and its aroma. The bitterness of caffeine is natural in simply tasting espresso. But the full flavor of espresso can be appreciated through smell.
Different Types
There are different ways to enjoy espresso. Here are only a few of the many ways you can:
- Espresso Shot
- Americanos
- Cappuccino
- Latte
- Macchiato
- Fantasia
- Mocha
Types Of Roasts And The Espresso
Now it's time to learn more about the types of coffee you can use for your espresso! You can get creative with the roasts you use. However, don't forget to take note of how these types of coffee would taste like.
Dark Roasted
Dark roasted coffee is commonly used for espressos. They are rich in flavor. Because they are roasted longer, the bean’s oil is brought to the surface. Arabica and Robusta are considered to be balanced compromises in espresso. One of the best things about it is it brings out certain flavors! Chocolate, burnt sugar, and tobacco are only some of the many flavors that go well with a dark roast.
Medium And Light Roasted
Medium and light roasted coffee are drier than dark roasted. Although you can use light roast for espresso, it is usually not recommended. Light roast is the most acidic coffee and is close to its fruity state. It has the most caffeine content. However, it lacks richness and usually makes flat espresso. Medium roast coffee is more recommended. It has a more balanced taste and has less caffeine than light roast. The best thing to consider is the aroma of this roast. It indicates more flavor and body.
Which Coffee For Espresso: Recommended Choices
Try to figure out the type of coffee you prefer. But here are some of our suggestions to help make your espresso experience more delightful!
Safe-Bet Roasts
If you’re still new to espresso or not comfortable with trying things out, don’t worry. There are usually coffee beans labeled as “espresso beans” in markets and coffee shops. These coffee beans were created with a flavor profile in mind. They often go well with milk, so making different drinks would be a breeze. You can’t go wrong with espresso beans!
Natural Processed Roasts
Although you might have your preferences for coffee, there’s an obvious tip for espresso. If you can, choose naturally processed roasts over washed coffee roasts. Washed coffee is known for its clarity and vibrant notes. Natural roasts are more fruity and fermented in flavor. In espressos, natural roasts bring out the natural sweetness of the coffee. The flavor of the espresso is rich, so you can still taste it with the natural roast.
Single Origin In Cafes
Single-origin coffee usually just means that the coffee is grown in one known place. Although this doesn’t matter that much to many people, single-origin implies something more than the place. Single-origin coffee is a type of coffee and not just a blend.
The flavor of the coffee depicts its farm and unique location. It has characteristics from where it was grown, which makes it more interesting. Most of the time, there are tasting notes in single-origin coffee beans. These would tell you if the coffee is balanced. It can also tell you about other flavors like chocolate, caramel, nuttiness, or even dried fruit! Know more about espressos.
Which Coffee For Espresso?
In the end, this is your espresso. The question will not only fall on which coffee for espresso because you can basically use any type of coffee beans you want!
In deciding which coffee for espresso, don't forget the flavor, you want to taste in your drink to achieve your coffee goals. Keep this in mind while you find a blend that matches your tastes. But there's no pressure. There are a lot of espresso beans in the market that are catered to, giving you a balanced blend. You can also opt to use safe roasts to achieve the usual rich taste. And if you want, get creative!