Confused about the difference between espresso beans vs coffee beans?
Many people ask the same question when they see coffee bags labeled espresso beans.
Technically, an espresso bean is also a coffee bean. Both come from the same source but may go through a different processing method.
You'll find the difference between coffee and espresso beans in this post.
What Are Espresso Beans?
Espresso beans belong to the dark roast of coffee beans because they roast longer. They also have smaller and finer ground particles.
So, what are espresso beans used for? Because of their unique characteristics, espresso beans are used to make an espresso shot using a machine designed for that method.
These dark-roasted beans have rich natural oils on their surface, but with low acid levels and fuller bodies, you can feel them on your tongue.
Espresso beans produce a creamy foam or crema lighter on top of the dark espresso shot.
Using the high-pressure brewing method, you can bring out an espresso bean's maximum flavor and aroma.
What Are Coffee Beans?
Coffee beans are the same beans that are roasted to prepare for brewing. We divide it into light, medium, medium-dark, and dark.
Light roast has a mild smell and taste and a matte finish, while the darker ones have a more potent flavor and aroma with a shiny surface.
How Are They Prepared?
We have established that these beans originated from the same source. Even though that’s the case, is there a difference between espresso and coffee beans?
The actual difference between espresso beans and coffee beans is how we prepare them.
Roasting Time
Espresso beans are darker and oily because of the longer time they are under high heat, which allows them to produce a more profound smell and taste.
A longer roasting time removes most of the acid from the beans while releasing their natural oils, usually around 20 minutes.
Coffee beans refer to many beans and are usually roasted from light to medium-dark to highlight their unique flavors.
The typical coffee bean roasting time is around 13 minutes or fewer.
Ground Particles
The ground particle size is vital to the coffee’s overall flavor, as it helps in the extraction process.
Espresso grounds have finer particles than ordinary coffee grounds. The sand-like texture is essential to the way espresso is processed.
Coffee grounds have coarser particles for many brewing methods in creating a hot or cold coffee drink.
Brewing Method
Another difference between espresso and coffee is the brewing method. This is another crucial aspect in bringing out the flavor and aroma of the beans.
You can prepare a regular cup of coffee using different brewing methods and devices. There’s the drip, French press, percolator, and other preparation methods.
Coffee lovers say the best way to get light roast's full taste and smell is through slow extraction, such as filter coffee.
An espresso shot uses a different brewing method and an espresso machine to get the right flavor and consistency.
We draw a real espresso shot out using high pressure. It also required specific tools and skills to create this brew.
It produces a rich crema on top of the dark espresso, showing that we observe the right brewing procedure.
Flavor and Aroma
Since they roast espresso longer, have finer grounds, and use a particular machine for brewing, its unique flavor and aroma differ from a regular brewed coffee.
Espresso has less acid but a bolder and richer coffee flavor. Its full-bodied finish is because of the natural oils released during the longer roasting time.
Caffeine Content
With caffeine content, the regular cup of drip coffee is more caffeinated than espresso.
A coffee bean’s caffeine is burned away when roasted longer like espresso beans.
Brewing Methods for Regular Coffee
There are different ways to brew and prepare ordinary beans. Here are some common ways to do it.
Pour-Over
One of the simplest ways to brew regular coffee is through the pour-over method. It’s a typical process usually done at home.
You only need a filter holder with a filter, coffee grounds, and hot water. You then pour hot water onto the coffee grounds inside the filter.
AeroPress
The AeroPress is similar to an espresso machine, as it also needs pressure to create a flavorful coffee shot.
The only difference is that an AeroPress needs human power to complete the job, which may not provide enough pressure to extract the flavor.
Cold Brew
Interestingly, the cold brew process uses regular coffee beans by slowly extracting the flavor using an immersion method.
To do this, you simply put the coffee grounds inside the filter and submerge it into room-temperature water for one day.
This process creates a smooth coffee concentrate perfect for hot days. You can prepare a cup by diluting it with milk or water.
French Press
The French press is the universal way of brewing a regular coffee cup using immersion and ordinary coffee beans.
Here, coffee grounds and hot water are placed inside the carafe. As the coffee particles drop to the bottom of the pitcher and separate from the liquid, an intense brew is created.
Espresso Beans vs Coffee Beans
The only difference between espresso and coffee beans is how they are roasted and brewed; it has nothing to do with the beans. They create an intense brew.
A coffee pack with an espresso label is just the manufacturer’s way of informing the consumers how to prepare that particular pack.
When you put dark-roasted beans under high pressure, they produce a more intense flavor profile.
Brewing coffee using the standard drip or pour-over method creates a milder flavor. Brewing coffee through these methods allows you to control the taste better.
Conclusion
Espresso vs coffee beans only differs in their roasting time and brewing process.
Espresso beans are mostly dark-colored with shiny and oily surfaces. Their flavor and aroma are more distinct compared to coffee beans.
However, coffee beans with a lighter roast have more caffeine content because we do not expose them to high heat for a long time.
More than knowing the difference between coffee and espresso beans, follow the right practices when brewing a cup.
Learn more about excellent coffee and make the perfect cup by following these five easy steps.
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