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In the collective imagination, espresso coffee, or espresso as it was originally called, is the essence of coffee and the way to prepare it to enjoy an exceptional coffee. As we will discover throughout this page, to prepare an espresso coffee, it is not enough to use an espresso machine, but it is also necessary to choose a suitable coffee and to apply a meticulous preparation with the greatest care.
There are many elements involved in preparing a cup of this beverage that is able to reveal and extract the aromas and flavors contained in the coffee beans. Here is an overview of everything you need to know and do to make not just an espresso, but the best espresso ever!
Contrary to what its name may suggest at first glance, the name espresso (in Italian) or espresso (its international adaptation) makes no reference to the speed of its preparation or the duration of the extraction of aromas in contact with hot water. In fact, espresso refers to the operating mode of the machine that gave its name to the drink, i.e. extraction by pressure.
This being said, it is easy to understand that the particularity of a coffee maker or espresso machine is that it has a powerful pump that allows water to be sent at the ideal temperature through the grind, with a pressure generally between 8 and 10 bars. The fact that the water passes through the grind at high pressure is the central point of the elaboration of the espresso cups, the one that makes the extraction of the aromas of the freshly ground coffee able to preserve all the nuances and the subtleties of it. It is also this water, propelled at high pressure by the percolator, that allows us to obtain the famous and delicious crema, or cream, which appears as a white foam on the surface of the cup.
As espresso machines are becoming more and more advanced and modern, it is possible on the most advanced models to adjust every detail and function: the water temperature, the pressure of the water, the quantity of water used, or the extraction time. We will come back later on to the influence of these different settings and how to use them to prepare the ideal coffee, according to your taste and preferences.
In addition to the principle of operation, an espresso machine differs from a filter coffee maker in that it has an integrated grinder or grinder. This grinder allows you to add the necessary quantity of coffee beans, which will then be ground to a fresh and suitable size. With a filter coffee maker, it is essential to grind the coffee beans yourself or simply use already ground coffee. As ground coffee is more prone to oxidation and alteration of the aromas than coffee beans, it is easy to understand why drinking ground espresso coffee at the last moment is a guarantee of superior aromatic quality.
In order to determine the differences between classic coffee and espresso coffee, we must also address the subject of caffeine. Contrary to popular belief, the level of caffeine in a cup of espresso coffee is not higher than in a cup of filter coffee. In fact, the exact opposite is true! High-pressure extraction is based on flavor and not on caffeine, because of the speed and high pressure, unlike a filter coffee maker, which is based more on a brewing phenomenon, which favors the presence of caffeine in the coffee thus prepared.
Espresso coffee also differs from coffees made with a filter, plunger or Italian coffee maker by the presence of a steam nozzle dedicated to the creation of a creamy milk foam. Lovers of beverages such as cappuccino, or more generally coffee with milk, can enjoy a much lighter and creamier milk, more digestible, and which can remain on the surface of the cup or be stirred, depending on their preferences in the matter.
Finally, whether we are talking about Arabica, Robusta or a blend of Arabica and Robusta, it is important to know that the choice of the grind (size and consistency of the ground coffee) should not leave anything to chance. What is the difference between an espresso grind and a grind for other types of coffee? This is what we suggest you discover in the following pages.
Whether it is ground with a mill or purchased already ground, whether it is Arabica or Robusta, the coffee used to make an espresso must meet certain criteria in order to find in the cup all the aromatic potential of the coffee beans, carefully harvested and roasted.
Ideally, the grind for espresso coffee should be quite fine and it should be possible to form a small ball with the grind when it is pressed between the fingers. For those who are not fortunate enough to have a grinder or espresso machine equipped with a grinder that allows them to use coffee beans ground per minute, it is therefore necessary to choose ground coffee whose grind has these characteristics.
This advice is not always easy to apply if you buy your coffee in a supermarket, where ground coffees are rarely differentiated according to their ideal preparation method, apart from pods and capsules that are intended for only certain types and brands of coffee makers.
On the other hand, by turning to a coffee shop, it is very easy to ask for advice on finding the best grind to use with an espresso machine. In the case of an online store, you can simply browse through the categories on the website to make the best possible choice.
Traditionally, robusta coffee, cheaper and easier to produce, is the variety most used by baristas. However, its natural bitterness and lack of aromatic finesse can lead to a preference for Arabica coffee, which is more expensive, but much more interesting in taste, especially since it is possible to vary the aromatic pleasures depending on the country and region of production.
In addition to the fineness of the grind, there are a number of other indications that may be found on the packaging of a package of ground or bean coffee that can be very useful. The country of production can tell us more about the aromatic notes and the dominant flavor that may come out of the coffee beans. The date and method of roasting are important elements in determining the care taken in roasting, with artisanal roasting being the best choice.
For ground coffee, it may be wise to look for the date of grinding of the beans, which is the essential criterion to know the freshness. The more recent the grinding date, the better the taste of the coffee.
Espresso coffee, which remains the most consumed form of coffee in the world, is prepared in several steps. Here is the procedure to follow to prepare espresso coffee.
All that remains is to enjoy the freshly prepared cup of coffee. On this point, there are several schools of thought, between those who prefer to drink their coffee black and almost boiling, those who add sugar or milk and enjoy stirring their coffee for a few seconds or minutes, or the gourmets who take care to keep the cream on the surface of their favorite drink.
As coffee experts know, or as you may have understood from the lines on this page, coffee beans need to be properly preserved so that their aromas are not altered by oxidation, which is the result of the contact of the coffee with the ambient air.
To preserve already ground espresso coffee, you should therefore try to follow these tips:
Logically, it is therefore preferable to buy coffee packaged in a classic 250g packet rather than in 1kg packets, as the packet will remain open for a shorter period of time, the time it takes to empty it.
For coffee beans, which are less sensitive to oxidation, due to the compactness of a bean compared to a grind, it is still necessary to apply some simple gestures to improve its conservation and maintain its taste quality. Generally speaking, the advice we have just given for ground coffee is also valid for coffee beans.
However, to conclude the subject of coffee conservation, it seems important and useful to remember that, due to the difference in the level of oxidation between coffee beans and ground coffee, it is advisable to grind only the amount of coffee that you want to consume during the day.
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