Question 1

What Exactly Is Espresso?

Accepted Answer

Espresso is a coffee beverage that is made via a pressurized brewing process. This makes the brewing faster. Combined with the finer grounds used for espresso and lack of paper filter, the high pressure also puts a lot more of the beans' content into your cup without being gritty. The near-boiling water doesn't have time to extract the overly-bitter flavors that might otherwise come with the very dark roasts favored in espresso.

Question 2

What Makes Espresso Special?

Accepted Answer

Espresso's concentration makes it fantastic for people who enjoy the type of rich taste it offers. The concentration also makes espresso great for mixing into other beverages or even foods while maintaining a strong, distinctive coffee taste.

Question 3

What Is The Best Way to Make Espresso at Home?

Accepted Answer

Espresso machines used to be too expensive for the vast majority of people to afford at home. They've come down a good deal in price, but most good ones still run well over a hundred dollars for even the simplest models. This might be acceptable if you like espresso daily and don't have a need for a standard coffee maker, but it will depend on your budget.

Question 4

Can I Make Espresso Without An Espresso Maker?

Accepted Answer

Yes, sort of. Espresso machines use so much pressure to brew their product that it's not really possible to duplicate the process perfectly without one. That said, there are a few cheaper brewing tools that can let you get pretty close. An AeroPress makes a coffee beverage that's darned close to espresso by using just their default instructions. It's rich and thick and can even get a hint of crema, which is a distinct espresso feature. However, it's not going to have quite as much body to it as an espresso, especially since it does use a paper filter, and recipes claiming more than a hint of c

Question 5

Which Has More Complex Flavors, Espresso, or Drip Coffee?

Accepted Answer

Whether espresso or drip coffee has more complex flavors really depends on who you ask. However, if your coffee has more complex flavors, it's because it has more thorough extraction. The time it takes for a standard cup of coffee to brew allows for a wider range of compounds, all with slightly different flavors, to be extracted from the coffee grounds. However, this does mean that coffee captures more of the sourness associated with the lower amounts of extraction and the bitterness associated with the higher ends of extraction. A good brewing system does a great job of balancing this.

Question 6

What Drinks Can Be Made With Espresso?

Accepted Answer

There are many, many different drinks made with espresso. Most are made by mixing the espresso with some amount of milk, often steamed or frothy. Some of the most popular with milk include cappuccino, mocha, latte, and macchiato. One of the most popular espresso drinks without milk is the Americano, which is very similar to drip coffee but is made by mixing water and espresso.

Question 7

Why Does Espresso Taste Sour?

Accepted Answer

If your espresso tastes sour, chances are it wasn't percolated at a high enough temperature. Coffee beans release different compounds at different points in the extraction process. For drip coffee, a sour note often means the coffee was percolated too quickly. For espresso, however, there's generally a set, much faster brewing rate. Therefore, if only the first, more acidic notes were well extracted, then either the water wasn't hot enough or the coffee grounds were too coarse for espresso's quick, pressurized brewing.

Question 8

What Types of Beans Are Best for Espresso?

Accepted Answer

Espresso is made with either Arabica or Robusta beans. Arabica beans tend to work really well with the flavors of espresso, and Robusta beans have an extra kick of caffeine, so which type of coffee bean depends on what you're looking for in an espresso.

Question 9

How Do I Make Espresso-Based Beverages Vegan?

Accepted Answer

Whether you're making the espresso drink at home or ordering it at your local coffee shop, it's not very hard to make your beverage dairy-free. Coffee beans themselves are already vegan, so it all comes down to what's added to it. Please double-check if you're on a strict diet, but many of Starbucks' flavorings are vegan, including their Frappuccino base, and most coffee shops carry at least one non-dairy milk. At the time of this article, Starbucks carries coconut milk, almond milk, soy milk, and oat milk. At home, simply use your favorite of these milk alternatives.

Question 10

Can I Add Sugar to Espresso Drinks?

Accepted Answer

You can add sugar to espresso drinks! Sugar isn't a standard ingredient in most traditional espresso drinks, but if you like your drinks a little sweeter than the normal drink, feel free to add it! Be aware that stirring can disturb the crema or foam on top, so the drink might not be as pretty, depending on the sugar's timing.

Question 11

What If I Like Coffee Better Than Espresso?

Accepted Answer

It is okay to like coffee better than espresso! Coffee is easy to make and presents nearly endless options for customization. Most people already know how to make coffee, so it's less daunting, and it's a better choice for people who aren't sold on the taste but like the caffeine.