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The ritual is finished by firmly but gently tapping the cup back onto the saucer.Īdding sugar to the espresso is an accepted practice in Italy, and there is no shame in adding sugar to your beverage. In an Italian café, you might witness patrons breathing in the aroma as they hold the cup and saucer, and then drinking the entire beverage in 3 or 4 quick gulps. Making a great espresso is truly an art as well as a science.ĭrinking an espresso coffee can also be an art. This crema is one indictor of a quality espresso. Properly brewed, an espresso will feature a layer of rich dark golden cream, called crema on the surface. shot of pressure-brewed coffee using between 6.5 and 7.5 grams (about 1 Tablespoon) of finely ground coffee. So, What is Espresso?Įspresso coffee is a small 1 to 2 oz. True espresso machines are pump-driven or lever operated. The steam driven moka pots are often sold in major department stores for $75 or less. A true espresso machine must produce a minimum pressure of 9 BAR or 135 PSI (pounds per square inch) to force the water through a bed of finely ground and compacted ground coffee. Steam pressure is only capable of producing up to 1.5 BAR or 50 PSI of pressure. These machines are generally electric "moka" style machines that rely on steam pressure to force water through the ground coffee. There are machines out there labeled as "espresso machines" that aren't really true espresso machines. It is entirely a matter of taste.Īs low as $9.99 Are all espresso machines really espresso machines? Any roast can be used to make good espresso. And in Northern Italy, a medium roast is generally used. On the east coast of the US, a light roast is often preferred. In California, you would be most likely to encounter a dark or "French" roast. Popular thought might lead you to believe that espresso must be an extremely dark roast however the espresso roast varies from region to region. 1st in Coffee offers a variety of espresso blends from illy, Lavazza and Segafredo. Some roasters might even argue that you can only make a good espresso with the right blend. The pursuit of the perfect blend for making espresso coffee has led to this common misconception. Although there are blends designed specifically for espresso, the blend does not make it espresso. Any type of coffee bean can be used to make good espresso coffee. Inaccurate marketing and erroneous word of mouth have given many people the impression that the type of bean determines whether the brew is espresso or not. So what makes a true espresso? Is it the Bean?
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Correctly brewed espresso is made using a pump-driven or lever operated espresso machine. Is it a bitter concentrated shot of caffeine? Where did it originate? Can you use sweeteners? What is the creamy froth on top of an espresso roast? How should you drink espresso? Part of the confusion is due to improperly prepared espresso. Today, you will often find that people incorrectly pronounce or spell it "expresso".Įspresso can be very confusing.

It was first coined around 1900 and, loosely translated, means a cup of coffee brewed expressly for you.

So what are we talking about when we talk about espresso? The name espresso is Italian in origin.
