What is an Espresso?
Whilst infamous and iconic in the coffee world, even the biggest coffee lovers don’t know exactly what an espresso is.
What is an espresso?
Espresso is a concentrated form of coffee, served in shots and it’s often the coffee base of many other beverages, such as cappuccino, latte, americano and macchiato.
But actually, what is an espresso? Espresso is not a type of coffee bean or a roasting style – a common misconception. It’s a process of brewing coffee and is instead made by forcing high-pressured hot water through very finely ground coffee beans. This is then topped with a crema, a brown foam, that adds the rich, full-flavoured aftertaste. An espresso is intense and bold, but nonetheless delicious, and is usually served in small demitasse-style cups for this reason.
What an espresso is made of
Espresso is a concentrated form of coffee, served in shots and it’s often the coffee base of many other beverages, such as cappuccino, latte, americano and macchiato.
What an americano is made of
An americano is just water and espresso. It’ll either be served 1/2 and 1/2 or 1/3 espresso to 2/3 water, depending on the coffee shop in question or how you’ve chosen to brew it.
What a latte is made of
A latte or caffè latte is a milk coffee that is made up of one or two shots of espresso, lots of steamed milk and a final, thin layer of frothed milk on top.
What a cappuccino is made of
A cappuccino is the perfect balance of espresso, steamed milk and foam. This coffee is all about the structure and the even splitting of all elements into equal thirds.
What a mocha is made of
Although a mocha is often interpreted differently across the world, the basis is that a shot of espresso is combined with a chocolate powder or syrup, followed by milk or cream. It is a variant of a latte, in the sense that it is often 1/3 espresso and 2/3 steamed milk. However, a chocolate flavour is added, and this can be milk or dark.
What a macchiato is made of
The macchiato is an espresso coffee drink, topped with a small amount of foamed or steamed milk to allow the taste of the espresso to still shine through. A macchiato is perfect for those who find espresso too harsh in flavour, but a cappuccino too weak.
What an iced coffee is made of
An iced coffee is a cold version of your favourite coffee, but it’s not simply a coffee that has been left to cool. Like a regular coffee, it’s usually a combination of hot espresso and milk. However, ice is added too.
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Espresso origins
Often mistaken for being a translation from the Italian word "express", meaning fast, espresso actually derives from the word "esperimere", which means "to press out" or express. However, the concept of an espresso was to create something that could be prepared quickly. Espresso became increasingly popular when the demand for coffee increased in the late 1800s and early 1900s
What is the difference between an espresso and regular coffee?
We have questioned what an espresso is, but how does it compare to regular coffee? The biggest difference between regular coffee and espresso is the preparation. Other methods of brewing coffee can take more time, because they rely on a slow filtering process sifting hot water through coffee grounds. The next biggest difference is the fineness of the grind. The beans in an espresso need to be finely ground, whereas for regular coffee, medium ground beans are required.
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