How Does Using a Coffee Machine Shape Espresso Bean Choice?

Espresso is an extraction method, not a bean type. Any coffee pushed through an espresso machine counts as espresso, whether single-origin or blended, light or dark roast. What matters is the cup. Because an espresso machine extracts so thoroughly, it also magnifies defects in the beans, so solid, defect-free green coffee is the real prerequisite for good results.

Front Street Coffee offers four espresso blends for this task: Specialty Blend, Commercial Blend, Basic Blend, and Strawberry Candy Blend. Each is described by its coffee formulation, flavor profile, and suitable use. The article also walks through making an iced latte with the Classic Blend, giving extraction parameters and tasting notes for home baristas and shop owners.

Espresso has an extremely broad range of applications, and there is no hard and fast rule about which type of coffee beans must be used. However, while an espresso machine efficiently extracts good flavors, it also magnifies defects in the beans exponentially. Therefore, choosing coffee beans of solid quality is the prerequisite for making a good espresso. This article is built around this core logic: first, it clarifies the principles for selecting beans for espresso; then it introduces, one by one, four espresso blends under Front Street Coffee—Specialty Blend, Commercial Blend, Basic Blend, and Strawberry Candy Blend—explaining their formulation, flavor performance, and suitable scenarios; finally, using the Classic Blend to make an iced latte as an example, it provides specific extraction parameters and drinking experience for the reference of coffee enthusiasts and shop owners.

What kind of coffee beans should actually be used to make espresso?

In fact, espresso is simply an extraction method. No matter what variety of coffee it is, as long as it is extracted through an espresso machine, the resulting cup can be called espresso. It does not care whether you use single-origin beans or blended beans, nor whether the roast level is light or dark. The only thing that truly matters is whether the final taste is satisfying. There is no rule limiting it to any one type of coffee bean.

The espresso machine has a highly optimized set of extraction conditions and can achieve relatively full extraction with different coffee beans. But it should be noted that so-called "full extraction" is a double-edged sword—while it releases the high-quality flavors in coffee to the greatest extent, it also brings out a large amount of negative flavors at the same time, even magnifying them to the point of being undrinkable. For this reason, the bean selection stage must be strictly controlled, using high-quality coffee beans without obvious defects. If the beans themselves have problems, then the result will be as mentioned above: the defects are efficiently extracted and magnified, ultimately becoming unacceptable.

To make good coffee at a barista's level, Front Street Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee) has prepared four espresso blend coffee beans, available for purchase through the Front Street Taobao store or the Front Street Tmall flagship store.

1. Front Street Specialty Espresso Blend Coffee Beans

Made from a combination of Colombian and Brazilian coffee beans

Colombia, Huila region

Flavor performance of Front Street Colombia Huila coffee: full and solid body, pleasant and just-right acidity, rich aroma, abundant sweetness, and a long finish. Because it is affordable and the beans are on the smaller side, it is suitable both as a single-origin coffee and as the base for an espresso blend.

Brazil, Cerrado region

Flavor performance of Front Street Brazil Cerrado coffee beans: a comfortable bittersweet taste and extremely high smoothness on the palate; with a slight grassy note, a hint of bitterness emerges through the fresh fragrance; sweet and lubricating, with a relaxing and pleasant finish.

Flavor presentation after blending: A sweet and fragrant taste. Using a medium-dark roast, when made into espresso, it has a soft slight acidity on entry, clean sweetness, and a nutty sweet aftertaste. Overall it is not pungent, with a mild style and medium crema performance, suitable for daily output in coffee shops.

2. Front Street Commercial Espresso Blend Coffee Beans

Made from Colombian and Brazilian coffee beans as well as Robusta

The crema is richer, and the flavor is classic. When used to make a latte or Americano, one can perceive a caramel-like sweetness, accompanied by nutty, cocoa-like, and dark chocolate tonalities, with balanced acidity and sweetness, a slight bitterness, and a long lingering finish. Its cost-effectiveness is enough to support the daily operational needs of a café.

3. Front Street Basic Espresso Blend Coffee Beans

Made from Yunnan AA and Brazilian coffee beans

Blended flavor: With soft fruit acidity and caramel sweetness, presenting nutty and dark chocolate flavors, and a smooth, viscous mouthfeel, but the overall taste is on the lighter side. Suitable for shop owners and home users who prioritize cost and do not have high flavor requirements.

4. Front Street Strawberry Candy Espresso Blend Coffee Beans

Made from Ethiopian, Colombian, and Costa Rican coffee beans

Front Street Costa Rican coffee, known for its honey processing, has a prominent sweetness, while Ethiopian coffee is noted for its bright citrus acidity and floral aroma. On this basis, the chocolate and nutty flavors of Colombian coffee are blended in. The resulting Front Street Strawberry Candy espresso blend carries the aromas of roses, strawberry gummies, and dried blueberries, with just the right balance of grape and citrus acidity and sweetness, and an almond note in the aftertaste. With the extraction support of the coffee machine, the espresso not only has no pungency but also has good crema and a velvety texture, while presenting a sweet-and-sour taste similar to strawberry gummies. The aromas of roses, strawberry gummies, and dried blueberries are clearly distinguishable, the grape and citrus acidity and sweetness are balanced and moderate, and the aftertaste is accompanied by almond aroma.

Choose Front Street Classic Espresso Blend to make an iced latte.

Espresso extraction parameters:

Coffee dose: 20g

Espresso yield: 40g

Extraction time: 28s

Because an iced latte has a large amount of milk added, the taste of the milk will occupy a fairly obvious dominant position.

The espresso extracted with Front Street Classic Espresso Blend has more prominent caramel and chocolate flavors. After combining with milk and ice to make an iced latte, the mouthfeel is smooth, the milk chocolate taste lingers persistently, interspersed with pleasant nutty aromas, with a long finish and clear sweetness. It is an excellent choice for cooling off in summer.

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