Espresso coffee beans and ground coffee

About Espresso coffee

When you see the word espresso on a coffee package, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Some people exclaim – I love a small shot of espresso. Others shake their heads and say they don’t like it and usually drink it with milk or just black. Still others ask – is this coffee really only suitable for a particular coffee drink? So what is espresso coffee for and what makes it different from the rest of the coffee range?

What is espresso coffee?

To answer this question, let’s start with the definition and origin of espresso. It is derived from the Italian verb esprimere, the present tense form of which, espresso, means ‘squeezed’. It was first used to refer to the method of making coffee itself, then to refer to the recipe, and then to refer to a certain type of roasting and grinding coarseness.

The way coffee is prepared

The first prototype espresso coffee machine was built by the Italian Angelo Moriondo in 1884. Subsequent refinements by his compatriots (Luigi Bezzera, Desidero Pavoni and Achille Gaggia) led to the development of the method of coffee making we know today, whereby water is pressed through finely ground coffee at a pressure of 8 to 10 atmospheres to produce a tasty coffee drink. This method produces the most popular coffee recipes: espresso, ristretto, lungo, americano… and, when combined with milk, cappuccino, latte macchiato, flat white and others.

Name of coffee recipe

This recipe requires the use of espresso equipment. It is a 25-35 ml coffee drink made from 7-9 g of coffee, through which clean water at 90-96 °C has been filtered at 8-10 atmospheres and the coffee has been ground so that it takes 20-30 seconds to brew.

Type of coffee roasting

With the popularity of the espresso method, the word has come to be used to describe the type of roast. It is a type of roast (usually darker than medium). A light roast makes it more difficult to achieve a balanced flavour, while a darker roast is just the right way to extract sweetness.

Type of coffee grind

Espresso also refers to the coarseness of the grind, where the coffee is ground fine enough to allow the water to pass through the coffee more slowly and to allow time for the aromas and flavours to be absorbed and revealed.

Best espresso coffee

Now that we’ve established what espresso coffee is, let’s move on to the most frequently asked question – what’s the best? Although there are no very strict rules on what the best coffee beans for espresso are, we do have a few tips:

1. It is important to make sure that the coffee is suitable for the espresso brewing method – this should be stated on the packaging or in the description or specification of the coffee.
2. Choose only quality coffee. We advise you to buy your coffee from specialist coffee shops. This way you are more likely to get a coffee that is based on quality raw material (the beans themselves) and that has been roasted properly.
3. The best coffee is fresh coffee. The fresher the roast, the tastier and more aromatic it is, and in the case of espresso specifically, the easier it is to get a good crema.

If you still have questions about espresso coffee or need advice on choosing one, please contact our consultants, who will be happy to help you make your choice.