Are you a coffee lover? Maybe you’ve wandered the coffee aisle of your local grocery store and seen some coffee bags labeled espresso, and thought that the label referred to the type of beans used. Well, the main difference between regular coffee and espresso is not the type of beans used but the way the beans are roasted and brewed. Keep reading to learn exciting details about your favorite type of coffee: espresso.
Is there a difference between espresso beans and coffee beans?
No, they are the same. The beans used to make coffee are either Arabica or Robusta, which are also used to produce espresso. Although Robusta coffee beans are considered of lower quality compared to Arabica, Robusta beans produce better cream and contain higher amounts of caffeine.
Espresso is just a normal coffee bean (Arabica or Robust) that has been roasted for a longer period of time, ground into a finer size and brewed in an aero press or an espresso machine. Espresso coffee is much stronger and thicker than other types of coffee because of its high concentration of dissolved and suspended solids. As a result, espresso is served in a smaller size compared to regular coffee because it contains a higher amount of caffeine per unit volume.
History of espresso
In order to understand how espresso is made, you need to know the history of espresso. The word “espresso” has several meanings in different languages. In English, espresso is believed to be derived from the word “express”, which means to apply pressure or squeeze out the coffee’s flavor using the pressure produced by the steam.
In French, the word “expres” is derived from espresso, which means speed, indicating that coffee is made quickly like express train. In Italian, the word espresso means to make something expressly for a single person.
Espresso is made using an espresso machine. There are various types of espresso machines such as:
- Steam driven espresso machines
- Air pump driven espresso machines
- Piston pump driven espresso machines
The first espresso machine was patented in the year 1884 by Angelo Moriondo, who was from Turin. This suggests that the espresso drink can be traced back to the early 1880’s. However, back then, the espresso machine was known by a different name, “New steam machinery for the economic and instantaneous confection of coffee beverage, method ‘A. Moriondo”. This particular espresso machine was a bulk brewer at the time, which means that it could brew coffee for more than one customer at a time.
In 1901, a man from Milano named Luigi Bezzera patented an improved version of the first espresso machine. The new espresso machine was named “Tipo Gigante” and it had 4 sections that contained differently sized filters which contained the coffee. Additionally, the new espresso machine had a boiler.
Soon after in 1903, Bezzera sold his patent to Desiderio Pavoni, who founded the La Pavoni Company in 1905 and began producing more espresso machines. In 1927, the machine was finally installed in the US in New York. Over time, the espresso machine has undergone improvements to improve the quality of espresso produced by the beans.
In fact, there are espresso machines today that are made to perform the entire process of making espresso e.g. grinding the coffee beans and milk frothing.
Roasting espresso
Espresso beans are roasted for a longer period of time to develop a richer deeper flavor. As a result, the beans are roasted past the 2nd crack to ensure that they have less acidity and oil. This is why espresso usually feels fuller and heavier in the mouth.
The extended roasting time of the espresso beans beyond the first crack provides the chemicals within the coffee structure more time to caramelize. The average roasting temperature for dark espresso is 532F. As a result, the beans will have a rich dark color with a slightly oily surface. When roasting the coffee beans, their flavor is strongly indicated by the aroma they produce.
Since both Arabica and Robusta coffee beans are roasted so dark, their quality differences become less pronounced.
How to make espresso
Finally we get to the exciting part. If you just bought a new espresso machine or looking to expand your taste of coffee, then this part is for you. We have detailed the steps you need to take to make espresso from an espresso machine. Check them out below:
Step 1: Grind the coffee
The unique thing about espresso is that it requires the finest grind of coffee. However, you need to ensure the coffee beans are not too coarse or too fine because it can cause the shot to be under extracted or over extracted. We recommend you aim for a fineness that feels like dusty sand. The coffee should feel a little grainy and soft.
If you are looking to make a single shot of espresso, ensure that you use about 9 grams of the roast espresso. If you want a double shot of espresso, use at least 18 grams of roast coffee. Different brands of coffee beans and different roasts will need a different level of grind on the coffee machine. We recommend doing several test runs to get the perfect grind for your espresso.
Step 2: Measure and dose the coffee
Espresso machines usually hold the ground of coffee in a portafilter. The round metallic part on the end of an espresso machine is called a basket. The baskets of espresso machines come in different sizes and they help to measure the amount of ground coffee you’re using.
However, if a basket size is 21 grams and you fill it up with the ground coffee, the basket may not hold 21 grams of coffee. This is because coffee tends to change its density frequently when its environmental conditions change. Some of the environmental factors that alter the density of coffee include:
- The humidity surrounding the coffee
- The aging of the coffee, which causes it to release built-in gases that formed when the coffee was roasted.
Therefore, to get the right amount of coffee, ensure that you add the nicely ground coffee into a portafilter and then weigh the portafilter on a gram scale. The gram scale will ensure you get the right amount and weight of coffee that you want.
Step 3: Distribute the coffee and compact it
If you want the shot of espresso to extract perfectly, ensure that the coffee is distributed evenly inside the portafilter. If some areas within the portafilter are tightly packed while others are loosely packed, the water flowing within the coffee bed will over extract some particles and under extract others, which will cause the espresso to taste poorly.
Therefore, make certain that you tap the portafilter gently to evenly distribute the grounds of coffee. This will allow the espresso tamper to compact the coffee tightly and allow water to flow equally in the coffee bed.
Step 4: Pull the shot
Your next step is to click the portafilter into position and start the shot. Do this by placing the portafilter inside the espresso machine and then start the shot by pressing the button. Some espresso machines have an automatic reaction for this part. A good espresso shot should last about 25 to 30 seconds. The coffee should have a rich espresso flavor and a foamy cream.
Step 5: Serve and drink
The most important step of all is for you to enjoy the savory richness of the espresso you just made. Serve yourself the drink and enjoy.
Benefits of drinking espresso
Curious whether the little shot of delicious caffeine is good for your health? Here are a few health benefits of drinking espresso. They include:
Improves long term memory
Did you know that espresso is really good for your memory? Not only does espresso help the brain retain useful information, but it also helps you recall important information. So, if you have an exam coming up, drink some espresso while you study.
Boost your concentration span
The high caffeine in espresso gives you energy that allows your mind to focus on what you are doing. This is because espresso triggers your brain to produce dopamine, which improves your level of concentration.
Medicinal perks
Coffee has many antioxidants that have a tone of health benefits. For instance, espresso contains polyphenols, which boost your immune system and help to prevent diseases. Espresso also contains cafestol, an anti-inflammatory hormone and hydrocinnamic acids, which neutralize the free radicals that you may encounter e.g. UV rays and air pollution.
This is your sign to brew yourself a delicious shot of espresso and enjoy the health benefits.
