Espresso Coffee – A Marvelous Taste Experience
Espresso coffee is becoming one of the most popular types of beverage consumed throughout the world. It is a blend of several different types of coffee beans from different countries, principally from the arabica coffee bean. Espresso coffee is more popular today than it has ever been at any time in its history, perhaps thanks to the marketing power of coffee giants such as Starbucks.
Many of the most popular drinks that we consume everyday are made using espresso, rather than the more traditional filter or drip coffee. Espresso coffee is therefore very strong and usually served in small “demitasse” glasses, or mixed with a large amount of milk as in a latte or cappuccino. The first espresso machine was invented by Bezzera in 1901, and produced by the Italian company La Pavoni in 1905.
Espresso coffee is usually enjoyed alone with a rich, bold taste that stands up very well on its own. It has a distinctive aroma which is similar to freshly ground coffee, only richer. Many people like to enjoy a cup of espresso coffee in the afternoon as a pick-me-up. The concentrated flavor and caffeine level serves to give you an energy burst, especially if you are feeling sluggish after a big meal.
Espresso coffee involves extracting only the best parts of the coffee bean by using water and pressure. You can purchase machines for the home that will produce some surprisingly good espresso coffee. It is best if you do some research before purchasing one of the machines since they offer different ways to extract the coffee bean flavor. The cheaper home machines usually put out a bitter tasting espresso which is not that great to drink. By paying a little more for a quality machine you will find that the difference in the taste of the espresso is well worth the difference in price of the machine.
Enjoying the Perfect Grind at Home
Learning how to produce a great cup of espresso coffee will take practice and patience. Creating that special blend will take a lot of hands-on tasting experience. There are websites that offer suggestions and help with this process.
Espresso is quite often dark roasted which will turn out bitter. A light roast is usually sweeter and offers the best aroma. Espresso is best if brewed within four days of roasting. The grind is also an important factor in flavor. Typically espresso is ground finer than regular coffee. The best taste is achieved when it is brewed just after the grinding process. This is when you get the maximum benefit of aroma and taste.
Water temperature for brewing espresso coffee is usually best if it is just under the boiling point. This prevents the coffee from having a bitter flavor. When looking to purchase an espresso machine you should always look to see what temperature water the machine produces. This is a very important factor when you are looking for great taste.
The taste of espresso is also added to many other drinks to provide richness and flavor. Frozen espresso drinks are becoming a very popular item at specialty coffee stands. Espresso syrup is also used to flavor ice cream. For those people who really love coffee, espresso will be something they feel they must experience on a daily basis.
Tags: arabica bean, cappuccino, coffee, coffee beans, expresso, expresso machineRelated posts
April 04 2008 | expresso | No Comments »