Learning the difference between coffee and espresso is something all coffee lovers need to know. The reason is that most people don’t know the difference. They think the difference lies in the taste. However, to enjoy the kind of cup you want is crucial that you know all the difference. This article is going to high as many of the difference as possible. Ironically, some of the difference you might already know about them and others is new to you.
Here are some of the differences:
The Origin
We always think that the difference is in the bean, but actually, the difference is in their origin, the name. Both drinks can be made using either the Robusta beans or Arabica coffee beans. The Robusta coffee beans tend to have a nuttier flavor, while the Arabica has flavors from sweet to tangy when roasted. Also, it tends to be flavorful.
The two differ when it comes to origins lie and the name. The term espresso only refers to the brewing method and not the coffee drink. Espresso has a dark and bold flavor.
The grinding process
With regular coffee, you can use different sizes of grinds. Anything from medium to course will brew you a perfect cup of regular coffee. As for espresso, the grinding methods and grinds used to differ. There is only one size of grinds that you can use. Fine size. Whether you are grinding the ground beans by yourself and buying already grinded beans, they need to be finely grinded.
For espresso, they compress the coffee grounds into a dense coffee puck” and hot water. The mixture is forced under high pressure through the puck to produce espresso. According to coffereseach.org, it only takes 22 to 28 seconds to extract the flavor of the bean and make a perfect cup of espresso. When compared to regular coffee spends less time on heat, but also allows sufficient time to brew and the extraction to take place. It should always take less than 30 seconds to make an espresso.
The look
As mention above, espresso tends to be darker and flavor than common coffee. They might sometimes have a similar look, but espresso has a consistently strong flavor. It also has a thin layer foam floating on top. The foam is called crema. It has a light brown color with different contrasts depending on the method used to make the coffee.
Taste
Another thing is about the taste. Espresso tends to have a well-rounded, full-bodied, and roast flavor. It is much different from the regular coffee you enjoy at home or coffee shops around your home. Espresso lovers love the well-rounded taste of espresso more than that of regular coffee.
The brewing process
We are probably familiar with a variety of methods we can use to make regular coffee. Some of us even know different ways of making espresso at home. However, the process of making regular coffee and espresso are very different. Earlier, we mentioned that espresso takes only 22 to 28 seconds to extract flavor from the grinded beans. There are a few more differences when it comes to making espresso. Extraction is the only espresso brewing method.
When making a homemade espresso at home, you can’t use your regular coffee pot. You can either use the espresso making coffee machine. The high pressure needed to heat espresso is only available in an espresso coffee machine. Also, since the device comes with your grinder, it will make sure you get the finely grinded coffee beans for your espresso.
Though there are a variety of ways to make espresso at home. If you don’t have the needed machine, why use these other methods. The most flavorful, well-rounded, and full-bodied cup of espresso comes from an espresso coffee making machine.
Amount of caffeine
When it comes to caffeine amount in both drink, espresso wins. Espresso has more caffeine when compared to regular coffee. But other people claim it depends on the amount of coffee or espresso you have. If you take too much coffee and your friend take just a shot of espresso, you might end up taking a lot of caffeine than your friend.
While espresso might have a higher caffeine concentration, if you are an espresso junkie, it’s recommended you check the number of shots you take per day to limit your caffeine intake. Other times, it’s best to stick to regular coffee if you feel you have taken enough caffeine already.
Now that you know the difference between espresso and the regular coffee, you have a choice on which one to enjoy. All in all, it all comes to the taste. Espresso is stronger than regular coffee. You can have an espresso or regular coffee or both. It all depends on your preference. Check this article on the differences between ristretto and espresso.
