May 17 2010
Espresso Coffee
Espresso is an Italian word that literally means, “pressed out” and describes espresso coffee drinks perfectly. An espresso is literally coffee that has been pressed out of a filter with intense pressure making it much stronger than drip coffee or other coffee drinks. Espresso has a unique trait that makes it what it is and that is the crema.
Crema is the red-tinted creamy foam that floats on the top of an espresso. It is made up of the natural oils, proteins and sugar that are found in the ground coffee bean. Espresso drinkers know that the art of making the perfect espresso lies in the crema being just right. It can take many hours for a good barista to learn the art of pulling the perfect espresso.
Today, espresso machines are so automated and fine-tuned that it is possible to pull a great espresso in less than a minute. However, the entire process relies on many factors to come together at just the right time and in just the right manner in order to be the best.
One of the most important parts of making an espresso coffee is the coffee beans that are used. The beans should not be more than two or three days old. This makes it important to either purchase beans often or visit a coffee shop that has a large volume of business and can guarantee that the beans are fresh.
Another bean trait that is vital to the perfect espresso is the roasting process. While some people might like dark roasted beans for their coffee they should not use them for espresso. Dark roasting coffee beans causes them to lose many of their natural ingredients and thus unable to form a proper crema on the espresso.
The beans should not be ground until just prior to pulling the espresso shot. This keeps them from losing their flavor as they sit in a container waiting to be used. A quality grinder that does not scorch the beans during the grinding process is also important.
In addition the quality of the bean is the quality of the water. The best espressos are made from filtered water. The espresso maker may have a built in water filtration system or bottled water can be used. Filtered water keeps the espresso from being altered by contaminants.
Lastly, the espresso cup must be preheated. This is vital to serving the espresso. The cup should be made for espresso; usually a demitasse cup with thick walls and a narrow mouth is used. The cup is important because the espresso will be hot when pulled and if the cup is cold it can cause the crema and the flavor to be altered.
Espresso coffee is not for everyone. It is an acquired taste that some coffee lovers can’t wait for and others won’t go near. For those who love their espresso, it is important that it be pulled with perfection and served piping hot.
-Sharon Chapman
Also, visit espressoxpert.com for more on espresso and espresso making!