How is espresso different from coffee

Coffee is not just coffee anymore.

Coffee shops nowadays have completely changed the way people look at and taste coffee. We have discovered countless ways to brew coffee, and people are becoming aware of the subtle changes that can affect the flavor of coffee (if you haven't noticed yet, then you must be missing out).

So what is the difference between espresso and hand-brewed coffee?

From coffee beans to preparation methods, let's find out the answer together in these two series.

Are Espresso Beans and Coffee Beans the Same?

What is espresso?

Espresso was invented in Italy and is a popular type of coffee in Europe with a strong taste. The method is to brew the coffee with hot water at 92 degrees Celsius at a high pressure of 9-15 bar through a very fine ground coffee powder.

This coffee is characterized by the fact that it can be made and delivered to the customer very quickly, just like the shock that caffeine gives you. It has a higher coffee content and is denser than hand-brewed coffee.

Does this sound like it tastes too strong? Don't worry, espresso is not just a small sip of espresso we get from a micro-shaped coffee cup. It is also the base composition of other coffees we drink, such as Americano, Cappuccino, Fruity White, and Latte.

If you want to know the difference between these coffees, it is simply the difference in the ratio of water, milk froth, and coffee.

What is drip coffee?

In theory, espresso and drip coffee are conceptually the same. The basic principle is the same: hot water is poured over the ground coffee, the water passes through the coffee and some form of filter, and then falls into a container.

The key difference is that drip coffee is not pressed through because of pressure, but simply because gravity water is soaked through the coffee powder. For this reason, the brewing process takes a little longer, but the results are still delicious.

Because of this, it also requires more ground coffee and more water. 30 ml of drip coffee is not the same as what you get in an espresso machine.

Drip coffee - you will also hear it referred to as "hand-brewed" - tends to reduce the acidity of the coffee and emphasize the more complex flavors of the coffee. This makes it a popular brewing option for single-origin coffees, as it allows the drinker to taste all of the flavors and aromas that coffee is full of.

Unlike espresso, which has density and layers. Good drip coffee is clean, clear, and saturated. This is because more water is used to absorb the coffee oils and their aromas through pressure over some time, rather than using strong pressure. In addition to the lower acidity, drip coffee has a mild taste, at least compared to espresso.

Espresso Coffee Beans vs Regular Coffee Beans

Espresso coffee beans

Usually belongs to the dark roast category. This is because the coffee beans at this stage have the lowest acidity, but the beans are fuller. It is the richest in coffee's natural oils, which are emulsified with other compounds in the coffee and help to produce coffee butter.

However, care must be taken not to roast the beans too deeply, as the excess oils can clog the grinder, especially in super-automatic machines.

Regular coffee beans

Because of the different production methods, regular coffee beans are selected for medium or medium light roasting. In terms of taste, the darker the roast, the more pronounced the bitterness, which can overshadow other flavors; the lighter the roast, the more pronounced the acidity, the better the preservation of various flavors (fruity, floral, etc.), and the richer and more layered the taste.

Coffee flavors for various roast degrees are as follows:

Is The Brewing method The Same?

What is the best way to drink espresso?

This usually depends on the individual and the quality of the coffee beans used in the coffee.

I like to wait about 1 minute for the gas to leave the oils, or stir it with a small spoon. This reduces the initial bitter taste of the coffee. I also like to leave a small amount of coffee to wait to cool so that the last sip is slightly cooler. Why? Because this allows you to taste the coffee's inherent flavor.

If you taste commercial coffee in this way, it will always taste like charcoal or resin. If you do this with a boutique espresso, you will taste a coffee that you may never have tasted before, like orange, vanilla, bergamot, toffee, and raspberry.

Many espresso stores offer their customers a glass of soda water with their espresso, which serves two purposes. First, you can use it to cleanse your taste buds and keep your mouth free of off flavors; second, some of the carbonic acids have dissolved in the water, which makes the water taste a little sour, which tempers the acidity in the espresso and makes the other flavors more pronounced.

Some stores will give you some cookies or sweet treats while you drink your espresso. For example, Afrigato! A scoop of ice cream with a small cup of espresso is heavenly.

Filter Drip Coffee - Take time to enjoy the process

The brewing and steeping time of drip coffee gives this coffee its complexity - it is worth the wait. The process begins by wetting the surface of the coffee powder and then waiting for the coffee to "bloom" for at least 30 seconds. The coffee releases carbon dioxide during this process, allowing the water to flow through the coffee better. The rest of the process (post-bloom) is about 1 to 2 minutes. There are plenty of brewing guides on our website.

Compared to espresso, Italians last a while at 25 to 30 seconds. If you are drinking a cup of milk coffee, the time it takes to heat and pours in the milk is only a few seconds. This would make our preparation time (not including the grind) about a minute (depending on your or the barista's ability to multitask at the same time). This is a much faster way to make coffee.

For a drip tool, all you need is a filter cup, filter paper, and a cup (of course tools like scales and thermometers can help you measure more accurately). You can choose from a variety of filter cups, each with a variety of materials, each with some subtle differences, such as the size of the drip, the construction of the cup, etc. You can make your cup of hand-brewed coffee according to your preferences.

Final Thoughts

So, there is a big difference between espresso and American-style coffee no matter the visual, taste, or extraction method, so it also distinguishes a lot of people.

Some people like to drink American-style coffee, the first taste of burnt bitter, taste the aroma, let people lasting aftertaste.

Some people like to drink espresso, sweet and rich, feel the date of milk and coffee, and colorful fancy tongue enjoyment.

Some people like to drink American-style coffee, also like to drink espresso, feel every change brought about by coffee, and enjoy every taste of life.