What is espresso? Espresso is the brewing method of concentrated coffee, which brews small portions using steaming hot water and pressure. The more traditional cup of coffee that most of us are used to drinking is more diluted with water over a certain amount of time. This is why espresso coffee has such a strong intense flavor than a regular brewed cup of coffee. Luigi Bezzera first introduced the espresso machine in 1901. Of course, this invention has been upgraded over time to give us what we have today.

What Kind of Beans Are Used?

You can use any kind of coffee bean to make espresso. However, the best type of coffee bean to use is the dark-roasted; it has a hint of chocolate sweetness and is not as acidic. You can either try brewing espresso yourself at home or purchasing it at the store from the coffee section, it should be labeled as “Espresso”. The best-purchased espresso originates out of Latin America.

The Process of Brewing Espresso

Many companies that brew espresso coffee have different methods of brewing. The espresso shot should have a frothy light color on top that goes from light to darker shades of brown. The faster the shot, the sweeter it is; the longer it is held per second, the more full and intense the flavor will be. A lungo shot is produced with more coffee beans; the less coffee that is used is called the ristretto shot.

Additional Facts

Did you know that the darker and longer the brew, the less caffeine it contains and vice versa; the lighter and shorter the brew the more it contains caffeine?

A bad quality espresso coffee is very dark in color, drips easily, and will have a burnt and bitter taste to it. This is produced when you don’t have enough water pressure or too much coffee was possibly used. Espresso should run down like you are pouring honey and it has the appearance of a light brown color.

A bad shot is also produced when you use too little coffee, or if the shot comes out with too much pressure and it looks watery.

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