Can Coffee Be Tasted Well Through an Espresso Shot

Espresso tasting starts with knowing what is in the cup: a small, concentrated shot meant to be finished in two or three sips, historically ordered during Italian work breaks for a quick dose of caffeine. A proper tasting moves through steps such as rinsing the mouth with ice water, stirring the shot, and drinking in stages while noting mouthfeel, aroma, and finish. Many cafes, including Front Street, keep espresso off the visible menu.

Compared with pour-over, espresso stands out for its concentrated flavor, which is why it is often drunk deliberately rather than casually. The guide also answers whether sugar can be added, since the crema and intensity make that a common question, and it covers why good beans and good extraction matter. The same concentrated shot can extend into other drinks after the tasting, which is where an americano caffe fits.

Espresso is often hidden away on café secret menus, and only those who truly understand it will order a cup. Front Street Coffee is no exception. Many new customers are not clear about what kind of drink espresso actually is, or how to properly taste it. This article will start with the purpose of drinking espresso, move on to the differences between it and pour-over in terms of flavor experience, and then break down the tasting process step by step—from rinsing the mouth with ice water, stirring, and drinking in stages, to sensing mouthfeel, aroma, and finish. Finally, it will also answer the question of whether sugar can be added to espresso. Of course, a good espresso depends on good beans and good extraction, so the article will also introduce the characteristics and purchasing channels of Front Street Classic Espresso Blend.

Many cafés do not list espresso on the visible menu. More often, it is a hidden option, reserved for those who truly appreciate it, and Front Street is the same. Because of this, many customers who are new to coffee lack a concept of espresso—they neither understand what it is nor know how to drink it. In this issue, FrontStreet Coffee will talk about how to drink espresso.

When it comes to this coffee that is both niche and common, people are always curious about "how exactly do you drink espresso?" Every time this question comes up, the people around me jokingly say, "With your mouth, of course." Jokes aside, to truly answer this question, it helps to first understand another thing: when you drink espresso, what exactly are you drinking?

What Are You Drinking When You Drink Espresso?

In the past, Italians were used to using coffee during work breaks to refresh themselves. To avoid wasting time, they needed a cup of coffee that was served quickly and tasted strong. After espresso was brought over, customers could finish it in two or three sips. It is not hard to imagine that at that time, drinking espresso was mainly about quickly taking in caffeine and getting themselves energized to return to work.

Today, as coffee gradually moves toward specialty coffee, in addition to staying awake, people also have higher expectations for coffee's flavor. When seasoned coffee lovers order an espresso and savor it slowly, what exactly are they drinking?

Compared with pour-over coffee, espresso's standout characteristics are its concentrated flavor and fast drinking pace. It cannot be enjoyed like pour-over, where you distinguish the layered changes at high, medium, and low temperatures—often before it has even cooled, the cup is already empty. In addition, the high concentration brought by a low powder-to-water ratio makes espresso very heavy and intense on the palate, and most people find it hard to pick up too many detailed flavors (though there are, of course, espressos with complex and clear flavors).

In addition, under high-pressure extraction, espresso produces a unique "crema," which also gives it a special mouthfeel. So when tasting espresso, we focus more on sensing its mouthfeel, aroma, and finish, plus a few more prominent flavors. One more note: cleanliness and balance are the basic threshold. If an espresso is not clean enough or loses balance, that is a fatal flaw.

Why Is Espresso Served with a Glass of Ice Water?

People who often drink espresso will notice that when staff bring over an espresso, they often also include a glass of ice water. What is the reasoning behind this?

1. Espresso is usually served together with ice water. Because espresso has a small volume and a strong taste, the ice water is there to clean the palate and awaken the taste buds before you take a sip. Before drinking, take a sip of water and rinse your mouth to clean the oral cavity, so you can better appreciate the flavor of the espresso.

2. Then use the spoon provided to stir the espresso. The coffee liquid at the bottom of the espresso is more viscous, while the top layer is relatively thin. Stirring it evenly before tasting gives a more complete experience. Of course, you can also choose not to stir, so as to feel different mouthfeels and layers.

3. Next, divide the espresso into three to four sips and finish it. Rub your tongue against the roof of your mouth to feel its mouthfeel, use the sides of your tongue to perceive acidity, and engage various senses to comprehensively evaluate its overall state.

4. After finishing, close your mouth and breathe out through your nose to sense the aroma of the espresso and the finish it leaves in your mouth.

5. Finally, take a sip of clear water and rinse your mouth to perceive the coffee's sweetness.

However, espresso is ultimately just a drink, and there is no need to stick rigidly to a fixed way of drinking it. Any way of drinking it is fine. For those who prefer sweetness, Front Street suggests adding a small amount of granulated sugar or brown sugar before drinking. This can both enhance the coffee's caramel aroma and make the espresso easier to drink.

Of course, an excellent espresso is inseparable from good beans and solid extraction technique. FrontStreet Coffee is using a dark-roast bean today—Front Street Classic Espresso Blend. The recipe is a combination of three origins: Brazil, Indonesia, and Vietnam. It has both the caramel notes of American coffee and the wild character of Asian coffee, highlighting the coffee's rich aroma to the greatest extent and making it easy to extract abundant, dense crema. Whether made into an Americano diluted with water or a latte paired with milk, it is very suitable. It can be purchased and ordered at the Front Street Taobao store or the Front Street Tmall flagship store.

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The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.