What Coffee Beans Are Suitable for Espresso - Characteristics of Espresso Blend Coffee Beans and Espresso Powder-to-Water Ratio

Espresso coffee beans, as the name suggests, are coffee beans specifically used for making Italian-style coffee. What makes these coffee beans different from others? FrontStreet Coffee has listed several key differences for everyone!

1. Roast Level

Take coffee beans from coffee shops as an example. If using drip brewing (pour-over) to produce coffee, the beans used tend to be lightly roasted to highlight floral and fruity aromas. However, coffee beans used for espresso production generally come out after the second crack. This means they are roasted darker. Because espresso needs to be mixed with milk, cream, or water to adjust, it requires stronger and more bitter flavors.

2. Single Origin or Blend

Espresso coffee beans are still predominantly blended, which contrasts with other single-origin coffee beans. It should be emphasized here that blended beans are not necessarily espresso beans, and single-origin beans can also be used for espresso. The main reason espresso beans tend to be blended is for stability and price considerations.

What Coffee Beans Are Suitable for Espresso?

FrontStreet Coffee would like to remind everyone that before blending beans, you must first understand the different flavors of coffee varieties from around the world. Beans have different characteristics depending on their origin, which requires roasters to have a clear understanding of multiple coffee-producing regions' characteristics to adjust their roasting curves accordingly. Different coffee beans have different personalities due to different varieties and origins, with subtle differences in acidity, bitterness, sweetness, aroma, and body. Single-origin coffee beans often focus more on expressing the unique characteristics of a particular type of coffee.

The SOE (Single Origin Espresso) Trend

Recently, SOE has become popular. SOE stands for Single Origin Espresso. Although it doesn't necessarily equate to specialty coffee, if you select single-origin coffee beans with easily identifiable flavors for SOE, you can create espresso with unique and typical flavors. For example, the typical citrus flavor of FrontStreet Coffee's Yirgacheffe and the fruity flavors of FrontStreet Coffee's Kenya. Since espresso amplifies the coffee's flavors, specific characteristics become more prominent compared to pour-over. However, while SOE performs outstandingly, because it comes from a single origin, its defects are also relatively easily amplified. Factors such as roasting and grind size will affect the flavor, so it's not necessarily better tasting than blended coffee.

How Does FrontStreet Coffee Choose Espresso Blends? What Coffee Beans Are Suitable for Espresso?

Espresso coffee beans generally choose two types of coffee beans: Robusta and Arabica. Blending methods are typically Robusta with Arabica, or Arabica with Arabica.

[Robusta]

Mainly used in espresso blends to increase body and obtain rich crema. Robusta coffee beans are oval, spherical, or nearly spherical in shape, with a straight center line.

[Arabica]

Arabica coffee produced in different regions, at different altitudes, and under different climates has its own characteristics, showcasing completely different personality flavors. Before roasting, they smell like fresh grass, but after proper roasting, they exhibit "fruity aromas" (light to medium roast) and "caramel flavors" (dark roast). Suitable for single origins and various blends, they can be prepared using various extraction techniques.

Arabica coffee beans are long oval and flat in shape, with an S-shaped or C-shaped center line.

[How Much Robusta Should Be Added to Espresso Blends?]

FrontStreet Coffee believes that espresso coffee beans containing 10%-20% Robusta are most suitable. Exceeding this ratio will result in a rubbery taste.

FrontStreet Coffee currently offers four different flavored Frontsteet espresso blend coffee beans to meet most people's taste preferences.

(1) Frontsteet Specialty Espresso Blend Coffee Beans: Colombia Coffee Beans: Brazil Coffee Beans, ratio 3:7, 100% Arabica

Flavor characteristics: Comfortable bitter-sweet taste, extremely smooth entry; light grassy aroma, fresh fragrance with slight bitterness; sweet, smooth, and pleasant to drink; aftertaste is refreshing. Using medium-dark roast, when making espresso, it has soft, slight acidity, clean sweetness, and nutty aftertaste. The overall feeling is not too stimulating, balanced, with medium crema. It's an espresso blend that meets the daily production needs of coffee shops.

(2) Frontsteet Commercial Espresso Blend Coffee Beans: Colombia Coffee Beans: Brazil Coffee Beans: Robusta Coffee Beans, ratio 3:6:1

In terms of individual bean flavors, the taste from commercial beans is much inferior to that of specialty coffee beans. Generally, commercial beans are chosen for espresso blend coffee beans. Through blending, they can also produce coffee with excellent taste and can be used to make lattes, cappuccinos, and other espresso drinks. When FrontStreet Coffee uses this Frontsteet commercial blend espresso coffee bean to make Espresso, because of the Robusta beans, the crema will be richer, the taste classic, suitable for daily shop opening needs.

Flavor characteristics: Caramel sweetness, nutty and cocoa-like, dark chocolate flavors, balanced acidity and bitterness, slight sweet bitterness, persistent aftertaste.

(3) Frontsteet Basic Espresso Blend Coffee Beans: Yunnan Coffee Beans: Brazil Coffee Beans, ratio 3:7

Flavor characteristics: Soft fruit acidity, caramel sweetness, nutty and dark chocolate flavors, smooth and viscous, but the taste is relatively light. This cost-effective coffee bean is suitable for shop and home users who prioritize cost and have general flavor requirements.

(4) Frontsteet Sunflower Warm Sunshine Espresso Blend Coffee Beans: Frontsteet Honduras Sherry Coffee Beans: Frontsteet Yirgacheffe Red Cherry Coffee Beans, ratio 7:3

Flavor characteristics: Obvious fruit acidity, light berry aroma lingering, rich wine and chocolate flavors, comfortable sweet aftertaste.

In fact, FrontStreet Coffee has discovered that adding [Robusta beans] to espresso recipes can bring more caffeine, better crema, and a richer feeling.

What Factors Affect Espresso Extraction?

(1) Water Pressure

Modern machines use a water pump to control water output and adjustable water pressure. The ideal water pressure for Espresso is generally 9 BAR, which is also the most recognized ideal pressure by everyone.

(2) Boiler Pressure

Boiler pressure relates to the water temperature for making coffee and the force of steam. The higher the boiler pressure, the higher the water temperature, and the greater the steam force; conversely, the lower the water temperature, the smaller the steam. Boiler pressure is generally around 1 BAR. Of course, this value is still controversial, and every barista has a different understanding.

(3) Water Temperature

Water temperature needs to be determined according to the requirements of different coffee bean varieties. Some are constrained by boiler pressure, while others allow for more flexible precise settings. According to most baristas' experience, water temperature between 90 to 92 degrees Celsius is ideal. Each barista can make flexible adjustments based on their understanding and needs, creating their own style of Espresso through their hands.

(4) Tamping Pressure

There are various styles of tamping, and in this world, almost no two people's tamping is exactly the same. Generally, if it's heavy tamping, the required pressure would be around 25kg/m2, but tamping is indeed the most free parameter in the golden rules. Because FrontStreet Coffee uses a calibrated pressure tamper, the tamping force is basically consistent.

(5) Espresso Bean Grind Size

Espresso uses extremely fine powder. The finer the grind, the slower the water flows through the coffee bed; the coarser the grind, the faster the water flows through the coffee bed. Adjusting the grind size can change the extraction time flexibly while achieving the desired extraction amount. Imagine this situation: using a fixed 20g dose to extract 40g of Espresso, taking 25 seconds. Everything looks perfect, but upon tasting, you find the body is thin and sharply acidic. Obviously, this Espresso is under-extracted and low in concentration. At this point, grinding the coffee beans finer can solve the problems of under-extraction and low concentration while reducing sharp acidity and increasing body.

(6) Dose Amount

FrontStreet Coffee's single espresso dose is 12-14 grams of coffee powder, and double is 20-22 grams.

(7) Extraction Time

The extraction time specified in the golden rule is between 25-28 seconds, but extraction time is actually a comprehensive expression of tamping, dose, and grind size, requiring adjustment based on the barista's understanding.

(8) Extraction Amount

FrontStreet Coffee's single extraction is 20-21g liquid, and double extraction is 40g liquid. Combined with the dose, this is the key to the coffee-to-water ratio in espresso extraction.

How Does FrontStreet Coffee Make Espresso Base?

First, dry the coffee portafilter, then add 20g of coffee powder into the portafilter basket, use a distribution tool to level the coffee powder, then use a tamper to firmly compress the coffee puck. Lock the portafilter onto the group head, start the extraction button (for lever machines, pull the lever), and stop extraction when the coffee liquid reaches 40g. Extraction time should be between 28-32 seconds.

An ideal Espresso should have a balance between all elements, with distinct taste and a sweet aftertaste in the throat without bitterness. More specifically, it should have moderate acidity, bitterness, and sweetness, rich flavors, solid and thick consistency, and a persistent aftertaste that feels refreshingly acidic like citrus.

Blended beans are mostly used for espresso drinks such as Espresso, Americano, Latte, or Cappuccino. The coffee flavor is more balanced, smoother, and more stable, making it more appealing to the general public.

For professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style). For more specialty coffee beans, please add FrontStreet Coffee's private WeChat account: kaixinguoguo0925

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473