COFFEE GUIDE
Espresso
The foundation of everything.
WHAT IT IS
Espresso is coffee brewed by forcing hot water under high pressure (9 bars) through finely ground coffee. The result is 1 to 1.5 oz of concentrated liquid with a reddish-brown crema on top. It is the foundation of lattes, cappuccinos, cortados, and most other cafe drinks.
HOW IT IS MADE
Ground coffee (7 to 9 grams for a single, 14 to 18 grams for a double) is packed into a portafilter and locked into an espresso machine. Hot water at 90 to 96 degrees Celsius is pushed through the puck at 9 bars of pressure for about 25 to 30 seconds. The resulting shot is 1 to 1.5 oz for a single, 2 to 2.5 oz for a double.
WHAT IT TASTES LIKE
A well-made espresso from quality beans tastes complex and sweet, often with notes of fruit, chocolate, or caramel. A poorly made espresso tastes sour (under-extracted) or bitter (over-extracted). Light roasts taste brighter and more acidic. Dark roasts taste more chocolatey and less fruity.
WHEN TO ORDER IT
When you want to taste the coffee itself with nothing else in the way. When you want a quick shot before or after a meal. When you want to compare espresso quality across different shops.
HOW TO ORDER IT
Say "single espresso" or "double espresso." If you want it pulled short, ask for a ristretto. If you want it pulled long, ask for a lungo. At specialty shops, a double is often the default.
VARIATIONS
Ristretto: half the water, sweeter and more concentrated. Lungo: double the water, more bitter and higher caffeine. Doppio: a double shot of espresso. Affogato: espresso poured over vanilla ice cream.
CAFFEINE
About 63mg per single shot. About 125mg per double shot. Less per serving than a standard 8 oz cup of drip coffee (95mg average), but more concentrated per ounce.
According to Pulled Coffee data from 462,531 coffee shops worldwide, 15.9% of all coffee shops are classified as specialty — the type most likely to serve a proper Espresso. In cities like Vancouver (4,175 specialty shops) and London (3,621), your chances of finding a great one are significantly higher than the global average.
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