The Ultimate Guide to All Things Espresso
This Espresso Guide provides everything you want to know about Espresso Coffee from beans to brewing and more.
In addition to providing information about the Gourmet Coffees of the World – including Arabian and African Coffees, Asian, Indonesian, and Pacific Coffees, and Coffees of the Americas – we provide in-depth and comprehensive information about all aspects of Espresso.
This section explores the world of Espresso Coffee from Espresso Beans to Espresso Brewing. This includes Grinding Coffee for Espresso as well as Tamping the Espresso.
We teach you how to create the perfect Espresso Crema which contains the concentrated essence of the shot, and we make sure you know how to achieve all of the proper Technical Specifications necessary as you strive to Pull a Perfect Espresso Shot.
Once you’ve mastered pulling an espresso shot you are ready to explore the many different Espresso Drink Recipes we provide. For this you will want to consult our section on Steaming and Frothing Milk for creamy velvety foam.
As you improve your skills you can study the Barista Guide to Perfect Lattes and Cappuccinos. When you serve the drinks you will want to accompany them with some of the finest Espresso Cuisine.
This section explores the beverage espresso, the revered drink made in an espresso machine which provides pressurized extraction by forcing hot water under very high pressure through a compressed bed of roasted, ground coffee. The word espresso means “pressed out.”
The word espresso is also used to refer to a particular type of coffee roast commonly called Espresso Roast, which is the type of coffee bean placed into the espresso machine to brew the espresso.
We explore the culture of espresso and the broader sense of an espresso cuisine which is based around not only the espresso shot but also the associated foods and the espresso-based gourmet coffee drinks (espresso drinks) which often utilize steamed milk and foam. It all begins, however, with the clasic shot of espresso, typically about 1.5 ounces and when consumed solo served in a pre-heated demitasse, which is French for “half cup.”
Coffee beans for espresso are typically given a Dark Roast (e.g., Espresso Roast) and the coffee grind size is usually very fine, thus producing an extremely concentrated coffee beverage.
This section focuses on the coffee beans used to brew espresso. These beans are typically of the Arabica Coffee bean varietal (Coffea arabica var. arabica), however Robusta coffee beans (Coffea arabica var. robusta) are often used in espresso blends.
While the beans used for espresso coffee are typically given a Dark Roast this is actually a matter of personal taste with some people preferring a lighter roast.
When it comes to determining he grind size for brewing espresso it is typically very fine yet it may need subtle adjustments based upon what type of espresso machine (espresso coffee maker) is being used.
For example, when you use a steam-driven espresso machine you will want to use an extremely fine grind since the machine will not have as much pressure to force the water through the tamped coffee grounds as is provided by a pump-driven espresso machine.
This section goes into detail about brewing espresso including how to use the espresso machine to provide pressurized extraction in order to fore the hot water optimally through the compressed bed of roasted, ground coffee.
Also covered are Espresso Pods and Espresso Capsules including the popular E.S.E. Pods (ESE Pods – Easy Serving Espresso Pods) as well as the patented Hyper Espresso Capsules.
Provided are details on everything from the espresso machine to the grind of the coffee to the type of coffee grinder used, the coffee beans, and how they were roasted.
We go into detail on how to create the best flavor in the espresso shot by creating a proper crema, which is the thin layer of foam on top of the espresso – the crema is comprised of proteins, sugars, and emulsified oils created by the dispersion of gases (such as carbon dioxide and air) at high pressure in liquid. Sweet-tasting and golden brown, the crema includes the best flavors and aromatic qualities, and retains the intensity of the espresso.
We break down the anatomy of an espresso shot including the heart, body and crema. The heart includes the bitterness which balances the sweetness of the espresso’s aroma. The caramelly-brown middle layer is the body, while the crema is on top.
We show you hot to assure a consistent grind size and discuss the advantages of using the proper coffee grinder, recommending a conical burr grinder instead of a wheel burr grinder or blade coffee grinder.
Also covered is the whole history of espresso brewing from the time that the predecessor of modern espresso machines was invented in Italy in 1935. The story is told in great detail in the World’s Best History of Coffee.
This section details how to make a specialty coffee drink, which is a drink that includes one or more shots of espresso that serves as the foundation for a variety of tasty drinks including lattes and cappuccinos and many more.
This section covers everything from Affogato to Biscotti to Brioche and Gelato as well as Sorbet and Sorbetto. These tasty treats immerse you in the full experience of espresso culture.
We cover the four basic types of espresso machines including the Steam-Driven Espresso Machine, the Piston-Driven Espresso Machine, the Pump-Driven Espresso Machine and Air-Pump Espresso Machines.
We also inform you about the difference between commercial espresso machines, prosumer espresso machines, and home espresso machines (consumer espresso machines) as well as pod espresso machines and even the high-tech super automatic espresso machines.
Espresso Companies, Products and Systems
The Espresso Guide gives you detailed information about the companies that make espresso and coffee related products including Cuisinart (single serve brewing system), Braun (T-Disc single serve coffee maker), DeLonghi (DeLonghi espresso machine), Saeco (Saeco espresso), Keurig (Keurig coffee K-Cups), Gaggia (Gaggia espresso and espresso machines), Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (Green Mountain Coffee K cups), Timothy’s World Coffee (Timothy’s K Cups), Lavazza (Lavazza espresso), Krups (Krups espresso machine), Tassimo (Suprema single serve system coffee makers and espresso makers using T-Discs), Illy (Easy Serving Espresso Pods), Gevalia (Signature blend T discs), Cuisinart (single serve brewing system), and also Senseo which offers Senseo coffee pods as well as the Senseo coffee pod system.
The Espresso Guide’s Espresso Brewing Tips
Finally we provide you with the most comprehensive Coffee and Espresso Glossary ever written – hands down! And then we top it off with the World’s Best History of Coffee which includes detailed information about espresso and espresso machines from the very beginning.
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