Most people actually pronounce and spell it expresso! While many people can spell it correctly, surprisingly few really understand where Espresso coffee comes from, how it is made, and how it is brewed.
Espresso was originally from Italy and the term was first used in the early 1900s. The word espresso loosely translates to “a cup of coffee brewed for you”. So what is espresso?
The beans that make espresso are no different than any other coffee bean (although because espresso has such a potentent taste, most roasters only use the best beans for roasting to espresso). While improper marketing and an uneducated buyer’s group incorrectly think it is a special type of bean, it is not.
Roasting is done slightly different for espresso, such as roasting the beans to an extremely dark roast, but this is not it either. The beans are not blended with other beans to make espresso like some other store brands such as Amy’s Blend sold by Caribou Coffee.
So what is it? Espresso is coffee that has been finely ground (almost to the consistency of flour) and then pressure-brewed for 25-30 seconds to produce a very small amount of highly concentrated coffee. Each brew will produce a small 1 ounce shot or a double shot with 2 ounces of espresso. When properly brewed, which by some standards is more art than science, the process will create a golden creme on top of the shot called crema.
Drinking espresso is like drinking a fine Cognac or Scotch. You smell the aroma, drinking it in sips, savoring the taste. You want to drink it when it is hot and in about 3-4 quick gulps.
Today, you can have an espresso drink anytime you like by using espresso pods. These self contained packages simply slip into a pod brewer and produce the perfect cup every time. No need to grind the espresso coffee beans, pack them tightly, or even watch the process. Just push a button and enjoy.
