What is the Best Coffee for Espresso?

When it comes to making espresso, choosing the right type of coffee can make all the difference. Learn what type of coffee works best for making espresso with this expert guide.

What is the Best Coffee for Espresso?

When it comes to making espresso, the type of coffee you use is just as important as the machine you use. While you can use any type of roast for your espresso machine, dark, espresso or French roasts will give you the flavor and consistency you expect from an espresso. In reality, there is no such thing as an espresso bean, and the best coffee for espresso is subjective. Technically, any coffee can be prepared as an espresso.

But there are coffee blends specifically formulated for espresso that taste better like espresso drinks. This is the same type of coffee that the barista world champions used only 16 years ago. They have a medium roast and adapt to almost any brewing style. If the mix is for a shot of direct espresso, it's best to avoid anything with robusta and opt for a brand that is 100% arabica, preferably with some high altitude coffees from East or Central America included in the mix.

This ensures that you will experience some fruity top notes. I like mixes that aren't too dark toasted. The grains should not shine because of the oil on the outside. Dark roast is known to be one of the best options for preparing espresso. You can get a dark roasted espresso in a variety of popular flavors, such as tobacco, chocolate, or even sugar. Most espresso enthusiasts believe that the key to finding the best blend for an espresso machine is to achieve a healthy balance between high levels of sweetness and lower levels of acidity.

The fineness of ground coffee and the total time required to prepare it are two of the most significant differences between espresso and traditional drip coffee. The dark roast of espresso beans is richer in natural coffee oils, evident in the oily sheen that can be seen in the beans. Traditional drip coffee also drips and is prepared at a much slower pace and does not reach the high temperatures than espresso coffee. Just make sure the grind isn't too coarse or too fine to make sure your coffee has a smooth, flavorful bottom, and that it doesn't taste bitter or sour. While you wait for the water to warm up, add two tablespoons of freshly ground coffee to the French press. Tasting your coffee and deciding what to change is the hardest part of mastering espresso and it takes time to learn. Living up to its name, this knee-buckle espresso from Stone Street Coffee Company is made from a selection of five different beans for an incredibly bold and fragrant brew. Another question that may arise during the debate is whether coffee is just a watered down espresso.

The answer is no. In conclusion, when it comes to making espresso, choosing the right type of coffee, such as dark roasts or blends specifically formulated for espresso, will give you the flavor and consistency you expect from an espresso. It's important to find a balance between high levels of sweetness and lower levels of acidity, as well as make sure that your grind isn't too coarse or too fine.

Glenna Matthys
Glenna Matthys

Hardcore internet practitioner. Wannabe beer advocate. Infuriatingly humble beer expert. Devoted coffee evangelist. Hardcore social media scholar. Friendly beer fanatic.