You’re at your local coffee shop staring at a chalkboard menu full of specialty drinks. Then it hits you, is there a difference between espresso and coffee?
As a former barista, this is a question I am all too familiar with. To put it simply, espresso is coffee. But not all coffee is espresso.
From the roaster to the cup, a few key factors account for the flavor nuances that distinguish espresso from coffee. Let’s look at the breakdown of espresso beans vs. coffee beans so you can become an educated coffee aficionado.
ROAST AND VARIETY
Coffee beans come in three types of roasts: light, medium, and dark. The darker the roast, the bolder the flavor. As for coffee bean varieties, there are many to choose from. The most popular of which are Arabica and Robusta.
The main difference between the two is Arabica beans have a milder and fruitier taste. In comparison, Robusta beans have a bolder flavor profile with a higher caffeine content.
But what about espresso beans? Espresso beans are coffee beans.
You can use any variety or blend for making espresso. However, Robusta is usually used due to the higher caffeine content and flavor. When you see a bag labeled “espresso beans” at the grocery store, it simply implies a darker roast that’s achieved through a longer roasting process. This process results in an oily coated bean with a strong flavor.
What this doesn’t mean is these beans are only espresso machine compatible, quite the contrary. You can use coffee beans labeled as espresso in any type of coffee machine. Percolator, pour-over, automatic coffee maker, French press, you choose.
These darker beans get an espresso label slapped on them because it’s the brewing method suggested by the coffee roasting company.
1. BREWING METHOD
The main difference between espresso and coffee lies in the brewing method. The three key components being the coffee maker, grind, and pressure.
TYPE OF MACHINE
While beans may be interchangeable, the machine types are not. Coffee makers and espresso machines operate differently.
Take a look at the coffee maker market, and you’ll come across a dizzying number of choices. All of which are designed to suit a range of lifestyles and personal preferences.
The most notable options include an automatic coffee machine, French press, percolator, pour-over, and cold brew coffee maker.
Espresso requires an entirely different type of machine. The most common of which are semi-automatic and fully automatic espresso machines.
Along with automatic, there are a couple of manual espresso makers available. These include the Moka pot, Aeropress, and an assortment of shiny lever espresso machines.
GRIND
Compare a pinch of espresso grounds to coffee grounds, and you’ll notice espresso is much finer. The reason for this has to do with brewing efficiency. It takes about 30 seconds to pull a shot of espresso. By using finer grounds, more water can extract the espresso in a faster amount of time. Hence, you achieve a more robust flavor profile.
Meanwhile, coffee grounds come in a range of sizes. From coarse to fine, the size of grounds you choose depends on the brewing method.
For instance, a standard automatic drip coffee machine usually calls for medium ground coffee. In contrast, a manual French press is best paired with coarse coffee grounds.
PRESSURE
Espresso machines utilize a complex method of high pressure and boiling water to brew a shot quickly. This process takes less than a minute and produces a single ounce of espresso.
A standard drip coffee machine uses a much lower level of pressure to brew coffee slowly. The brewing process takes about 3 to 10 minutes. As for quantity, this can range anywhere from a single cup to a full coffee pot.
2. CREMA
One noticeable difference between espresso and coffee is the presence of crema. Crema is the signature mark of an espresso. It’s an aromatic froth that forms when high-pressure water is forced through espresso grounds.
As this happens, tiny bubbles of carbon dioxide latch onto the fats and oils of the grounds. The result is a layer of crema floating on top of your espresso.
3. CAFFEINE CONTENT
Order a shot of espresso, and you’ll be greeted by an adorably small cup. That’s because of the caffeine content. Espresso is much more concentrated than your typical drip coffee. According to Consumer Reports, there’s about 63 mg of caffeine in a single ounce of espresso. That’s compared to the 12 mg you’ll find in an ounce of coffee.
When a barista pulls a single shot, the result is 1 ounce of espresso. Coffee, on the other hand, is around 8 ounces per serving.
So despite popular belief, there’s more caffeine in a single cup of coffee than espresso. However, when you break it down by volume, there’s more caffeine in an ounce of espresso.
4. TASTE
Fixings aside, espresso and coffee do have different tastes. The taste is largely determined by the coffee bean variety, roaster, and brewing method. All three of which contribute to the flavor nuances and aromas.
Typically speaking, espresso has a richer, full-bodied flavor that’s less acidic. Meanwhile, coffee has a less intense flavor.
5. TYPES OF BEVERAGES
When you order a specialty coffee drink, what you’re usually getting is a fancy espresso-based drink.
Cappuccinos, lattes, mochas, and macchiatos are all made with espresso. Even those frilly blended drinks topped with a mound of whipped cream and a glob of caramel are usually made with espresso.
Espresso drinks have a long lexicon that can be as confusing as the bean itself. While you could swap out the espresso with a strong drip coffee, it’s not going to taste the same. It also won’t have the same caffeine content.
This brings me to my next point, espresso shots. Like brewing coffee, there’s more than one way to pull a shot of espresso. For instance, a doppio is a double shot of espresso. Then there’s the ristretto which is more concentrated than a regular shot. The types of espresso drinks you can make are virtually endless, which are a blessing and a curse for any barista.
Meanwhile, coffee is more straightforward. Order a cup, then add in cream and sugar if you like. Of course, you could get fancy with it and start adding in flavored syrups or different types of creamers. However, you’re far less likely to encounter a dictionary worth of coffee-based drinks than espresso-based drinks.
CONCLUSION
When you get down to the nitty-gritty, espresso beans are the same thing as coffee beans. But, not all coffee beans are espresso beans.
What truly sets the two apart are the roast, brewing methods, and taste. Despite which drink you prefer, a good cup all starts with a quality bean. Happy Brewing!
