What is espresso?

Espresso is a method of coffee extraction or brewing where steam is forced through finely ground coffee which is pressed into the portafilter of an espresso machine. Forcing the steam through the coffee results in a more concentrated drink, typically served in one ounce servings in smaller cups or demitasses. Early attempts at commercialization of espresso has led to the belief that espresso is a certain type of coffee or roast or super strong coffee. This is not the case. While espresso has more caffeine by volume than drip coffee, it is served in smaller amounts. On average, a shot of espresso contains 75mg of caffeine, while a 12 ounce cup of drip coffee comes in around 250mg. The amount of caffeine is largely dependent on the varietal and most importantly the roast. We'll discuss caffeine in and upcoming post. Espresso is also the base for milk based drinks such as cappuccinos and lattes, as well as diluted with hot water to make an Americano (the name quite likely the result of some American tourist asking their Italian barista for a drip coffee.

Any bean or roast can be used to make espresso. Certain varietals and roast profiles tend to make more desirable espresso. At Compass Point Coffee we select those varietals which have a good suitability for espresso and then roast them to levels which optimize the flavor for all extraction methods, including espresso!