What Is Espresso?
Ever wondered what’s this buzz about Espresso?
Everyone’s all about:
“One shot of my espresso and I’m on my magic horse all day long.”
You’ve seen Espresso on every every café menu. Lattes, cappuccinos, americanos all start with espresso.
We’ve even got a SONG about it!!
BUT WHAT EXACTLY IS ESPPRESSO?
Well worry not my dear, because Kay is here.
Your local coffee hero to explain through this simple guide for beginner coffee lovers, enthusiasts and haters! (You know the ones who look down on you because you’re a coffee fan and they’re not?)
Here’s a simple guide for you.
NO BS, no barista confusion, only facts and a bit of my awkward humor sprinkled throughout. 😉
Espresso: The Simple Definition
It is a concentrated coffee made by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee.
It is brewed under high pressure to extract the intense flavor of the coffee.
The extraction time is around 25–30 seconds.
It results in a small shot of coffee with rich flavor and a creamy layer on top called Crema.
How Is It Made?
Let’s guide you through this magical process that turns coffee beans into your favorite beverage every time!
As I said above, Espresso is made by pushing hot water through finely ground coffee under high pressure.
That sounds quite simple…
HOWEVER each step plays an important role in creating a perfect flavor, texture, and aroma.
1. Finely Ground Coffee
It begins with finely ground coffee, much finer than what we use for drip coffee.
Grind size is extremely crucial to make a perfect shot because it controls how fast water flows through the coffee.
If the grind isn’t correct, it will unbalance the shot and it won’t taste right.
- If the grind is too coarse: Water flows quickly → sour, thin, under-extracted shot
- Grind too fine: Water struggles to pass through → bitter, harsh, over-extracted shot
- Grind is just right: Perfect Pressure → balanced sweetness, body, and smoothness
Perfect grind = perfect shot.
Baristas seldom adjust the grind slightly throughout the day to guard against humidity, and temperature changes.
Making it can get really precise like that.
2. High Pressure (9 Bars)
Pressure is the technique that separates espresso from other brewing methods.
An espresso machine pushes hot water through the coffee at about 9 bars of pressure.
It’s about nine times more pressure than normal atmospheric pressure.
To simplify, think of pressure as pressing or squeezing the flavor out of coffee.
High pressure extracts:
- Aromatic compounds
- Natural coffee oils
- Dissolved flavors
These compounds and oils give espresso its thicker texture and fuller body compared to regular coffee.
Without pressure, you wouldn’t get the same intensity, crema, or taste.
3. Short Extraction Time
It brews quickly in about 25–30 seconds extraction time.
It is because the coffee is finely ground, the water is pressurized and the ratio of water to coffee is small.
Extraction is a little tricky, even a difference of 5 seconds can noticeably change the taste.
Hence, a well-timed shot should:
- Start slow and syrupy
- Flow like honey
- Finish with a rich golden color
Grind size, high pressure, perfect timing all work together to create balance.
4. The Result: A Concentrated Shot
The above method results in a small but powerful shot that is an ounce/30 ml in size. It is concentrated, aromatic and full-bodied and it’s topped with golden layer of crema.
And… voila, here’s your perfect shot!
What Is Crema?
Crema is a golden foam layer that forms on top of a freshly pulled Espresso shot.
It is created when high pressure emulsifies coffee oils in an espresso machine.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) mixes with hot water and tiny air bubbles get suspended in the oils.
Crema is a sign of freshness because freshly roasted coffee beans contain trapped gases eg. CO2.
However more crema doesn’t automatically mean better quality.
Darker roasts can produce thick crema but they taste bitter.
Crema adds texture and aroma, but in an espresso shot balance matters the most.
What Makes Espresso Different from Regular Coffee?
Most people mistake Espresso for just regular strong coffee. However, its the brewing method that differs it from Drip Coffee.
| Espresso | Regular Drip Coffee |
| Pressure brewed | Gravity brewed |
| 25–30 seconds | 3–5 minutes |
| Concentrated | Diluted |
| Thick, syrupy body | Lighter, thin body |
Important to note:
- Since Espresso uses little water, it isn’t diluted like drip coffee. That’s why it tastes stronger and has more intense flavor.
Does Espresso Have More Caffeine?
This is one of the most common misconception among people.
No, it doesn’t have more caffeine contents.
An 30ml shot has less caffeine than a full cup. It is much concentrated, meaning it contains more caffeine per ounce.
However you drink much less of it.
In other words, volume matters. It depends on how much you’re drinking.
An ounce of it has a lot more caffeine than a shot.
In comparison to Drip coffee, Espresso loses the caffeine war.
BECAUSE…
A full cup of drip coffee has more total caffeine than a single espresso shot.
→ A 30ml shot has about ~63mg caffeine.
→ On the other hand an 8oz drip coffee contain ~95mg caffeine.
Why Espresso Matters
IT MATTERS BECAUSE WE LOVE IT!
Lol, jokes apart…
Espresso is more than just coffee. It’s the foundation of our modern café culture.
Base of Most of our favorite Drinks
Every drink popular with coffee lovers starts with an Espresso.
Lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites, macchiatos are made with it as their base.
It Reveals Roast Quality
Expresso is unforgiving when it’s about bean quality.
If the coffee beans are poorly roasted, it reveals the defects immediately.
Only high-quality coffee beans can shine under pressure.
It’s the Heart of Specialty Coffee
Espresso is the poster child of Specialty coffee.
Specialty coffee industry is built on the principals of quality, origin, roast perfection, and careful brewing.
And…
Espresso is only perfect when quality, roast and brewing method is perfect, highlighting all of these factors.
Common Misconceptions About Espresso
Let’s clear up a few myths among peers:
- It is a type of bean → False.
Espresso is achieved with a brewing method. Any coffee bean can be used to make it.
- It is always bitter → Not true.
A perfectly extracted shot is balanced. It’s slightly sweet, slightly acidic, and smooth.
- It has way more caffeine → Depends.
It depends on volume and a single shot has less caffeine than a full cup of drip coffee.
- Dark roast means stronger espresso → Wrong.
Dark roast tastes bolder for sure, however it doesn’t necessarily contain more caffeine.
Final Thoughts
Espresso may be just a drink but it combines culture, taste and craftsmanship.
A lot of efforts from farmers, roasters, baristas bring one perfect shot in our hands.
It’s made with precise roasting and careful brewing, involving pressure, timing, and technique to create one of the most flavorful forms of coffee.
Whether you enjoy it on its own or as the base of your favorite drink, it is the heart of the coffee world.
Knowing how much work goes into it helps you savor every sip just a little more.
Enjoyed reading this blog? Leave a comment and ask me any questions you have!
Want to Read more?
- What is Coffee Roasting? Coffee Roasting Explained.
- Arabica vs Robusta?
- What Is Specialty Coffee?
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