How to Choose Coffee Beans for Espresso

The choice of espresso beans is a matter of personal taste doubled by a rigorous technical checklist. In a way, we could say that we can use any coffee bean to make espresso, but that would be only partially true.

Reading: Best type of coffee for espresso

Espresso is one of the most misunderstood coffee preparation methods, and this is why people feel unsure about choosing roast or beans. whether it’s a single origin or a blend, the choice is ultimately a personal preference.

learn how to choose coffee beans for your espresso and why blends are generally better. learn the difference between dark and medium espresso beans.

what makes the perfect espresso?

what does the perfect espresso look like?

A good shot of espresso should have a top layer of brown foam called crema. This foam is essential because it contains aromatic oils and enhances the flavor of the espresso.

how do you know?

It’s hard to describe in words, but the best approximation is that it must taste like coffee. many find it disgusting, simply because it’s too intense, or because they take it all at once. you know how good drip coffee smells sometimes. however, when you drink it, it is nothing like the smell. take that drip coffee smell and think of an improved version of it. think of a flavor two or three times more intense than that. this is how espresso tastes.

is espresso bitter? yes, espresso is bitter. all coffee is bitter, but you get used to it. once you get used to the bitterness, you start to detect floral notes, caramel and other tones that the experts talk about. a bad drink, however, can be exceptionally bitter, if you prepare it incorrectly. there is a great quora post, where the specialists chime in with an explanation about the bitterness of espresso. it’s a great read if you’re a beginner.

what is the aroma of a perfect espresso?

The perfect shot should be an experience again. the moment the drink begins to flow, the room will be filled with an intense aroma of coffee. espresso basically smells like coffee, but more intense. Immediately after brewing, all volatile oils are in your cup. the production method ensures that aromas are not lost during preparation. with other methods, most of the aroma is lost. smell your espresso, it’s part of the ritual. here is a post where espresso fans discuss it. If your drink doesn’t smell great, it’s probably the beans or the brew parameters.

what kind of coffee is best for espresso?

A customer once asked me, “what kind of coffee do you put in the espresso machine?” my answer was “I use a medium dark blend of Brazilian and African Arabica beans with 15% Robusta beans, roasted three days ago.”

customer wanted to know what beans he could use with his home espresso machine. he was disappointed to learn that my mix was a custom order from a local roaster, which he couldn’t buy.

The reality is that you can use any coffee for espresso, as long as you like it. you don’t need a specialty coffee for your espresso machine. be patient with me; I’ll give you a little more detail in the next section.

which roast is best for espresso?

can i use dark roast for espresso?

you definitely can. in fact, most people prefer dark roasts for their daily drink. also if you use that shot for lattes, a dark roast will help those lattes with some deeper flavors.

Medium-dark and dark roasts tend to have the same flavor regardless of bean origin. if you want an analogy, dark beans are akin to comfort food. everyone loves them, but they are common. there is nothing special about them.

A special note about dark roasts: Darker roasts tend to get oilier faster than medium roasts. this, in itself, is not a bad thing. oily coffee tastes great. if you’re using a semi-automatic and a good grinder you should be fine. however, many super-automatic espresso machines and some grinders cannot handle oily beans.

can I use a light roast for the espresso?

absolutely. many espresso aficionados like to use lighter roasts for their shots. lighter roasts will give your shot an extra dimension.

If you want to experience grandeur and bring some of the flavors of the terroir to your cup, a lighter roast is the choice.

single source vs blends

I often hear the expression “espresso beans” and it makes me cringe a little every time. In fact, I got used to it and it doesn’t bother me anymore.

There are no espresso beans. roasters often develop blends and roasts that are more forgiving.

what do I mean by an indulgent espresso blend? when taking a shot with one of these beans, you can make mistakes and still get a decent shot. many coffee shops use these blends because they are easier to work with and work better in a cappuccino or latte.

However, if you want an exquisite pure espresso experience, you’ll want to steer clear of the easygoing blend.

To summarize the single origin versus blend comparison, I can say that blends are safer, single origin coffees are more rewarding.

how do you choose your beans?

Okay, I know my advice didn’t help you much, but this next section is where you’ll learn which beans to choose.

my first rule for you is to use the beans you like. that’s a bit vague and you probably don’t know what you like, but here are some examples of how to approach this.