Espresso vs. Coffee

Espresso is coffee. It is not a different bean or a different species. It is a different method. The distinction between "espresso" and "coffee" in casual conversation usually means the distinction between a small, concentrated, pressure-brewed shot and a large, diluted, gravity-brewed cup. Both start with roasted coffee beans. Everything in between is different.

The Flavor

Espresso is concentrated. Every flavor in the bean is amplified. Sweetness is sweeter. Bitterness is more bitter. Body is heavier. Drip or pour over coffee is transparent. The dilution spreads the flavors out, making them easier to identify. You can taste the difference between a Kenyan and a Colombian more clearly in a pour over because the flavors have room to breathe. Neither profile is superior. They reveal different things about the same bean.

The Caffeine

A single shot of espresso contains roughly 63 milligrams of caffeine. A standard 8-ounce cup of drip coffee contains roughly 95 milligrams. Drip has more total caffeine because there is more of it. If you need maximum caffeine in a standard cup, drip or a red eye delivers more than a single shot. Or order an americano and get both: espresso concentration diluted to drip volume.

Keep reading: What Is Espresso, What Is an Americano, Drip Coffee vs. Pour Over.