If you haven’t yet tried espresso ground coffee, you’re missing out on a meaningful experience.
Even if you are a coffee fan and love your regular morning filter coffee, it is worthwhile to be a little more adventurous by testing an espresso on your tastebuds.
Inform yourself about the delights of espresso ground coffee. First, discover how and why espresso is different from regular ground coffee.
Then, go on a trip to learn how roasts, grounds, brews, and flavors differ between these coffee types.
Then, take a leap and learn how to make espresso in your home for a brew you can enjoy daily.
What Is Espresso?
Espresso ground coffee is a super-hit that wakes you up like nobody’s business.
Espresso is concentrated caffeine in a cup. It is strong ground coffee that is, by design, served in small cups to ensure you won’t be on a caffeine buzz for days to come.
Espresso ground coffee uses the same berries as regular coffee but has a higher caffeine content because it is concentrated.
This coffee is also thicker than regular coffee for the same reasons.
Note that the name of this coffee is eSpresso and NOT eXpresso, which is something few people get right.
Besides the spelling of Espresso ground coffee, it is good to know that this beverage has a full-bodied, robust, rich flavor and aroma.
Espresso is made with an espresso machine with highly pressurized water, forced through the finely ground coffee cherries.
Due to the high pressure, the water extracts more of the soluble oils in the beans, leaving a brown foam on the surface of the liquid.
This brown foam is known as the crema, which forms because of the high pressure, creating a deliciously creamy, bubbly film when it mixes with the espresso ground coffee beans.
Coffee enthusiasts particularly enjoy the crema because of the concentrated, rich taste and aroma that it leaves on the palate, lengthening the pleasure of imbibing this drink.
So, to answer what espresso ground coffee is–it is like regular, quality coffee–just much better.
What Lind Of Coffee Is Best Used For Espresso?
Some people will argue that coffee is coffee. But those people don’t have discerning tastebuds.
If you speak with anyone who considers themselves coffee aficionados, they will probably tell you the espresso ground coffee made from Arabica berries is much better quality.
But, again–a “but” must be inserted here, as Robusta beans can be equally delicious for making espresso ground coffee.
A discussion of the primary characteristics of Arabica and Robusta may help solve this dilemma.
#1 Arabica bean characteristics
Arabica is known as a smooth coffee and is available in two primary varieties known as Bourbon and Typica.
Arabica is grown in highlands, which are cooler and more conducive to growing this variety.
Its flavor contains hints of sweetness, which is why people typically use less sugar in this coffee variety.
Arabica also contains flavor notes of berries and chocolate.
Arabica espresso ground coffee is available in varieties that include Pacas, San Ramon, and Caturra.
But, depending on the country of origin, Arabica coffee will differ in taste and aroma due to the climate, soil, and other environmental conditions.
In other words, espresso ground coffee made from Arabica berries will be smoother than those made with Robusta beans.
It will also contain less caffeine and acidity than espresso made with Robusta varieties.
#2 Robusta bean characteristics
Robusta coffee is known to be less smooth than the Arabica varieties because it contains more acid.
However, many coffee lovers enjoy this coffee variety’s robust flavor and aroma, especially when it goes into making espresso ground coffee.
Where Arabica coffee attracts descriptions of smooth, sweet, chocolate, and berry undertones, the descriptions of Robusta are less flattering.
However, even though these attributes may sound less complimentary to some coffee fans, others are drawn to its strength of flavor.
Robusta contains notes of bitterness. It is said to have a harsher effect on the palate than Arabica, with unabashedly rubbery undertones.
Which variety makes the best espresso ground coffee? You will have to do the palate test to find out for yourself, but if smooth flavors appeal, use Arabica varieties to make your espresso ground coffee.
If you value robust, rawness, then make your espresso ground coffee from Robusta.
But, of course, there’s nothing wrong with having the best of both worlds by using a blend of these two varieties–if you can bring yourself to do it, of course!
Difference Between Espresso And Regular Coffee
With the fundamentals taken care of, it is time to discuss the differences between espresso ground coffee and regular coffee.
Read on to learn about these differences regarding traditional roast, ground, brew, and taste.
#1 Roast
Roast espresso ground coffee undergoes a heat treatment at a higher temperature than regular roast coffee.
The roasting period also lasts longer for making that idyllic cup of espresso ground coffee.
This process increases the solubility of the espresso roast, ensuring you can extract more flavor for your brew.
Roasting beans for espresso in this way also means that the sourness of the bean is bypassed, leaving the grounds sweeter.
Roasting beans for longer also produces a fuller flavor, which is easier on the palate.
A regular filter roast coffee undergoes lower heat treatment for shorter periods than espresso.
Consequently, the roast flavor is not as prominent as the espresso roast. The filter roast also has a sweet taste, but you shouldn’t brew this product in an espresso machine.
Instead, use a French press or a regular drip machine, as this is what these coffee machines are designed to brew.
#2 Grind
Espresso ground coffee consists of a much finer grout than regular filter coffee.
Because the grouts only come into high-pressure contact with hot water for a short time, the beans must be finely ground.
The reason for the fine grout of espresso is that the hot water has a limited time to do its work, which is to extract the oils in the grouts rapidly.
So, as the hot, pressurized water hits the grouts, they release the characteristically strong aroma and flavor of espresso ground coffee.
Regular filter coffee grouts are much larger than espresso because the brewing method is different.
Instead of a high-pressure, hot water machine, you use a traditional coffee machine with a drip process.
Because the grouts are coarser in regular coffee, the water has a longer time encouraging the flavor and aroma of the bean to reveal itself.
#3 Brew
You must use a brewing method to express espresso ground coffee to enjoy its full value.
Just as it isn’t advisable to use an espresso machine to make regular filter coffee, a drip system won’t work to make that espresso.
Brew your espresso using an espresso machine with a high-pressure, hot water system to extract the bean’s full flavor.
You can also use AeroPress to make espresso. However, you should only use either of these two machines to make espresso ground coffee.
Otherwise, it is pointless purchasing this coffee type.
Besides using a drip system to make regular filter coffee, you can also use other methods, making this coffee type more convenient for most fans.
For example, you can use a percolator on a hot plate or place some coffee in a muslin bag and place it in boiling water on a hot plate to extract the flavors.
Other regular coffee brewing methods include using a French press or drip system.
#4 Taste
As mentioned earlier, you need an espresso machine to make espresso ground coffee.
The taste of a good espresso Arabica or Robusta will just never be the same if you brew your espresso using regular coffee methods.
A high-pressure water system breaks down the barriers of the grout to extract the rich, robust oil of the coffee berry.
Once the hot water hits the espresso grouts, they readily share their delights with you.
Nothing quite hits the spot like that caffeine shot rich in nuances of chocolate, berries, and the earthiness of the humble Arabica or Robusta bean.
In contrast, regular ground coffee does not so easily impart the vibrant flavors of espresso ground coffee.
As discussed, standard filter coffee grouts are larger, coarser, and typically use the French press or drip coffee machines to make.
The result is not quite as full-bodied, aromatic, or flavorsome as the espresso.
Also, the regular coffee is not as thick as espresso, which gives drinkers a vastly different experience when imbibing this beverage.
Nevertheless, few coffee fans are likely to refuse a tasty cup of regular filter coffee either.
How To Make The Perfect Espresso
We’re sure you’re eager to learn how to make the most perfect, deliciously idyllic espresso ground coffee.
So be attentive and follow these steps to start your new learning experience. Once you cover the basics, you can experiment further to create the flawless brew every day.
#1 Clean your equipment
Wipe the portafilter of the espresso machine with a clean cloth.
Cleaning is vital to making a cup of espresso ground coffee that doesn’t taste unpleasantly bitter.
#2 Determine the correct dose
There’s no need to get technical about dosing at this stage.
Simply use the portafilter to place the correct, pre-determined dose of espresso ground coffee into the container.
#3 Evenly distribute the grounds
A portafilter will typically dump the grouts into the basket in a clump, creating an uneven distribution, which means you’ll get less flavor in your espresso.
Instead, distribute the grouts evenly before tamping them down into a nice, firm wad.
If you’re feeling like a pro, use a unique distribution tool for the job.
#4 Tamping
Tamping is used for even distribution of the espresso ground coffee and to ensure that you remove any air pockets that can interfere with the flavor.
Tamp or flatten the grouts in the coffee puck until you can flatten (tamp) them no further.
The puck (grouts) must also be level to ensure that it absorbs all the hot water across an even surface.
#5 Group head rinsing
Always rinse the group head before you insert it into the portafilter.
Rinsing removes the remains of the previous cup of coffee, which can also interfere with producing that perfect cup of espresso ground coffee.
Rinsing the group head also ensures that the heat distributes evenly to make the most of the flavor extraction process.
#6 Time to make your brew
Insert the portafilter so that you can immediately begin the brewing process.
Of course, you must brew the grouts immediately. Otherwise, you run the risk of the group head burning the grouts and producing a horrible burnt, bitter taste.
#7 Remain attentive
This is not the moment to allow your smartphone to distract you from the brewing process.
Instead, remain alert, especially if you have a volumetric machine.
Any deviation in the time can lead to under-or over-extraction of the berry oils, which will spoil the brew.
Note how much liquid you get out of the machine is using a manual espresso maker.
If the machine is running at a fast pace, too much water is going into the brew.
You may also be over-extracting the bean oils if you do this. There is no rule for the timing here as equipment varies, as does the espresso ground coffee you use.
This is the time where you need to experiment to create the idyllic brew.
Enjoy your brew or chuck it out if it is unpleasant and start from the beginning.
Before you make another cup of espresso ground coffee, clean the equipment properly.
Otherwise–sit back, put your feet up, and enjoy the fruits (pun intended) of your labor.
Does Espresso Have More Caffeine?
You will also learn that espresso forms the foundation of various coffee beverages.
It comes from Italy, which is the home of espresso, which contains between 30 and 100 mg of caffeine in every shot (one ounce).
In contrast, regular coffee only has between 12 and 16 mg per ounce, which tells you quite a lot about how strong it is.
Of course, the jury is out on whether espresso ground coffee does contain more caffeine than regular filter coffee.
Some sources claim that the roasting process for espresso beans extracts more caffeine than regular filter coffee.
In other words, the higher caffeine content in espresso is more due to the concentration of this beverage rather than the caffeine volumes per ounce.
However, coffee fans will claim that the caffeine hit in espresso ground coffee is far more effective (and impressive) than anything you’ll find in regular coffee, even if it is a strong roast.
Conclusion
It isn’t necessary to be a coffee expert to appreciate a good cup of coffee.
But, informing yourself about the background of the humble coffee bean and what goes into making a good cup of espresso ground coffee somehow increases your appreciation.
So, get cracking on following your passion and discover the delights of making your own espresso at home.
Resources:
- TheSpruceEats.com
- CoffeeChronicler.com
- EldoradoCoffee.com
- SeriousEats.com
- DetourCoffee.com
- BaristaInstitute.com
Last Updated on September 15, 2022 by Ashok Parmar