What is Espresso?
Espresso Coffee: Espresso (Italian) is a concentrated coffee beverage brewed by forcing very hot, but not boiling, water under high pressure through coffee that has been ground to a consistency between extremely fine and powder. It was invented and has undergone development in Milan, Italy, since the beginning of the 20th century, but up until the mid 1940s it was a beverage produced solely with steam pressure. The invention of the spring piston lever machine and its subsequent commercial success changed espresso into the beverage we know today, produced with between 9 and 10 atmospheres, or Bars, of pressure. The qualitative definition of espresso includes a thicker consistency than drip coffee, a higher amount of dissolved solids than drip coffee per relative volume, and a serving size that is usually measured in shots, which is about 1 – 2 ounces in size. Espresso is chemically complex and volatile, with many of its chemical components degrading from oxidation or loss of temperature
Espresso is a coffee drink originated by the Italians as a quick pick-me-up for the working class people. It is finely ground coffee (either dark or light roast) that is placed under a machine which rapidly forces hot water through it at a high pressure. If done properly, this process creates an extremely strong brew that is not bitter.
Espresso is coffee at its very best. It is an extraordinary brew in every way, a tiny miracle of chemical and physical engineering that features characteristics best described in the language of the senses. It has a full flavored, fragrant and velvety body. The espresso system’s high pressure enables natural fats and colloids in the coffee to emulsify in the liquid and thus create a syrupy substance with a rich flavor and aroma.
Related Questions
- To make American coffee instead of espresso using an AeroPress coffee maker, you just dilute it with hot water. Why not run a whole cup of water through the press?
- Where can I find more information about espresso, espresso extraction technique, and equipment?
- Can I use espresso pods or make hot chocolate in the pod brewer?
