What Is Espresso?
In the world of coffee, espresso has a special place, but it is widely misunderstood. Not just the Italian name gets confused with the English word “Express”, but there is confusion with its actual meaning too. If you are “more than” just a regular coffee drinker and want to do some research on the special one, carry on the journey with me and find out what is espresso?
A Journey to The World of Espresso
A Brief Introduction
Espresso is not a coffee bean or a roasting style; it is basically a brewing process. The probable meaning of the word “Espresso” is “Pressed out.” It is a compressed coffee form prepared by forcing boiling water into perfectly ground beans in a 7-10 atmosphere.
A thick, foamy layer is seen floating over the beverage, which is the result of highly pressurized water forcing through the super-fine coffee grounds.
Grinding and coffee bean treatment make espresso distinct from a usual cup of coffee. Here, the coffee seeds are crushed into a finer texture and securely wrapped. Later, boiling water is driven through these beans by a coffee machine.
Espresso offers an amplified flavor of the coffee. It is more bitter, slightly sweeter, acidic, and toasty than regular coffee. The exact taste may fluctuate depending on the roast types. Also, the texture is creamier and thicker than regular coffee.
What is Espresso – at a glance:
- A brewing process, not a coffee bean on roasting style
- Origin: Italy
- Main ingredient: super-fine coffee grounds
- Pressure: 7-10 atm
- Temperature: 190° F
- Taste: Offers an amplified flavor of coffee
Is It Good for Health?
There are a lot of health-related advantages of regular caffeine intake. Coffee can upgrade your energy level and makes you smarter. Studies have found that caffeine can enhance fat burning and boost metabolic rate. Regular coffee intake leads to significant improvements in physical performance by increasing adrenaline levels.
Besides, research shows, that drinking coffee daily lowers the risk of type-2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia. Drinking coffee decreases the chance of cirrhosis and protects the liver.
Coffee beans contain many nutrients that remain in the finished brewed coffee. These are some of the health benefits of regular caffeine intake, and there are more! Espresso adds some extra perks to these.
One study found that drinking the equivalent of two espressos can increase memory consolidation, which results in the improvement of long-term memory. To get the proper benefit, stick to the recommended amount, no more, no less.
Another good news for those who want to lose some weight is – espresso is low-calorie. If you don’t add any extra sugar or cream, the beverage only contains about three calories per ounce. Besides, coffee has the capability to upgrade your exercise performance by reducing muscle pain.
However, keep in mind that large dosages of caffeine intake is harmful and opens the door to a lot of trouble. It can be said that up to 400 milligrams of caffeine a day seem to be safe for most healthy adults. But it can vary from man to man. Besides, beverages vary in their caffeine content.
How Much Caffeine Is There?
Espresso contains a high amount of caffeine. However, your total caffeine intake mostly depends on the amount of coffee drinking. It is usually served in a smaller ratio than regular coffees. Due to this, it may end up containing more limited caffeine than traditionally brewed coffee.
A single serving of espresso offers 29 – 100 mg of caffeine, and often clicks approximately 75 mg. A double serving contains 58 – 185 mg. For estimation, 80 – 200 mg of caffeine content is present in a single-serve of drip coffee. Double and triple servings of espresso and mixed drinks like red-eyes can raise the caffeine level remarkably.
As you can make it from any type of coffee beans, the acidity varies according to the roast. Softly roast coffees are more acidic than the darker ones. It is because the coffee bean’s inherent acidity seems to get hidden in darker roasts.
Storing Beans for Espresso
To make the best espresso, collect purely-roasted and top-notch beans. Espresso genuinely draws the taste out of the coffee beans. That’s why using quality beans is essential. The same happens in coffee shops. Go to those which offer quality beans and have professional baristas.
You can store the beans as it is or in the form of coffee grounds, but be careful not to place the beans in the freezer, except you reserve the entire bag. Taking the beans out of the fridge and using them repeatedly can leave the beans vulnerable to moisture and deteriorate the flavor.
It is better to put the beans or grounds in a thick, opaque, and airtight container and store them in a cool, dark place. If the beans came in a compact, resealable foil bag, keep them in that bag. After opening the package, try consuming the coffee within a week or two. Grind the beans while using them to have the best espresso.
Espresso as An Ingredient of Other Coffee Drinks
The most fascinating fact about espresso is that it forms the basis for many other types of coffee. With its intense caffeine flavor, espresso accepts various kinds of additions without losing the original taste of the coffee. So, besides learning more about what is espresso, check these below-given espresso-based drinks, and note that more beverages have an espresso in their hearts!
Macchiato
A macchiato is basically an espresso with a lump of steamed milk and foam on top. This topping is used to mellow the taste.
Americano
A cup filled with two-thirds of hot water, and the espresso serving is added as toppings – this is Americano, also known as the “Long black”.
Latte
Steamed milk with espresso and a micro-foam layer (foam with tiny bubbles) on top – this is a sweet and creamy “café latte” commonly known as a latte.
Cappuccino
Being a creamy cup of drink, the cappuccino is almost similar to the latte. The primary difference is in the amount of foam. A latte contains about 1cm of foam, while a cappuccino has 2-3 cm.
Red-Eye
The red-eye is a drink for when you need serious caffeine! Prepared with a single espresso serving on top of a drip coffee, it works as an eye-opener.
Cuban Espresso
I’m not digging dip here but note that it is not just an espresso made with Cuber beans rather it is a much sweeter beverage.
The Endnote
I hope you have received some pretty good knowledge of what is espresso! I’m leaving you with these – it is fantastic and hardly explored. Understanding the science behind espresso and making further developments is something that deserves attention. To brew an incredible espresso, always use freshly roasted and freshly ground coffee beans.