Many coffee enthusiasts have unknowingly equipped their homes with a wide array of coffee gear. Those who are obsessed with espresso have even stocked up on espresso machines, ready to pull their own shots. But many people don't know how to choose the right coffee beans for espresso extraction—they agonize over whether to buy dark roast or light roast, blend or single origin, and what the difference is between home use and commercial use. Today, we'll give you all the answers at once.

The Characteristics of Espresso

In the beginning, espresso referred to the concentrated coffee made by a semi-automatic espresso machine! Because this type of coffee machine originated in Italy, people called it "espresso," and the semi-automatic machine used to make it became known as an espresso machine.

A perfect espresso requires rich aroma, a full-bodied yet clean mouthfeel, with moderate bitterness, acidity, sweetness, and a perfectly balanced aftertaste. To meet all these requirements, we need to excel in both the coffee beans and the extraction.

What coffee beans are suitable for espresso extraction?

Theoretically, any type of coffee bean can be used to make espresso. However, because espresso machines use pressurized extraction, they tend to amplify the characteristics of the coffee beans and turn them into harsh flavors—for example, bitter coffee becomes more bitter, and acidic coffee becomes more acidic. Therefore, we recommend prioritizing medium to medium-dark roasted coffee beans, which ensures a rich crema for the espresso while also giving the coffee a nicely balanced taste.

Espresso Bean Recommendation ① Front Street Coffee · Classic Espresso Blend

Suitable for: Those who don't accept acidity and prefer rich, full-bodied flavors. Rich crema, can be used to make Americano and latte.

Espresso Bean Recommendation ② Front Street Coffee · Strawberry Candy Espresso Blend

Suitable for: Those who enjoy floral and fruity notes, with flavors of strawberry, grape, and cream. Suitable for making Americano and flat white.

Espresso Bean Recommendation ③ Front Street Coffee · Specialty Espresso Blend

Suitable for: Those who enjoy nutty aromas, low acidity, and a balanced mouthfeel. Making a latte brings out distinct caramel and chocolate flavors.

Espresso Bean Recommendation ④ Front Street Coffee · Huakui SOE Coffee Beans

Suitable for: Those who enjoy a mouthfeel that isrefreshing, with low bitterness and coffee aromas featuring tropical fruit notes. Suitable for making SOE Americano and SOE latte.

Espresso Bean Recommendation ⑤ Front Street Coffee · Queen's Estate SOE Coffee Beans

Suitable for: Those who prefer slight acidity. Making an Americano brings out aromas of roasted nuts and sugarcane, while a latte has flavors of milk chocolate and caramel.

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