Is Coffee Crema Good for Your Health_ Which Coffee Beans Have More Crema_ Are Coffee Beans with More Crema More Expensive

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What is a Perfect Coffee Crema Layer?

Every barista has their own definition of a perfect coffee crema layer. When brewing an espresso, the crema layer on top should not be too thin or too thick, and it should maintain its state for about two minutes.

Brewing a beautiful crema layer is somewhat complex because too many factors can affect the result. However, in practice, you can first follow several key principles:

Excessive crema layer will reduce the espresso volume. Many baristas aim for a crema layer proportion of about one-tenth of the entire cup of coffee.

Both over-extraction and under-extraction will affect the formation of the crema layer.

If the crema layer dissipates within one minute, it indicates that the extraction time is too short, or the coffee beans are roasted too lightly.

Generally, a quality espresso machine has an extraction time of about 15 to 30 seconds, though each machine varies somewhat.

Remember to let the machine warm up before brewing coffee, and clean it regularly to ensure operational quality. A dirty coffee machine will add bitterness to the coffee it brews.

Factors Affecting Coffee Crema Formation

Actually, it's quite difficult to completely control the coffee crema layer because, in addition to skills developed through practice, it's also influenced by the following factors:

How fresh are the coffee beans used for brewing? Fresh coffee beans can produce more crema because they continue to release soluble fats. Try observing this - if nearby coffee shops use self-roasted beans, compared to other establishments that don't use self-roasted beans, the nearby coffee shops are more likely to produce espresso with a thicker crema layer.

The roast level of coffee beans also affects crema formation. Generally speaking, the darker the roast, the less crema there is. This is because during the roasting process, a large amount of coffee oils has already been released, and through turning, packaging, and grinding, the coffee oils are further depleted. Additionally, overly lightly roasted coffee beans are not ideal either. Therefore, many coffee businesses offer products with specific roast levels specially designed for espresso brewing to ensure the beans have sufficient oils.

The processing method of coffee beans must also be taken into consideration. Sun-dried coffee beans can typically produce the best crema layer because sun-dried beans have higher oil content.

The brewing method of your home espresso machine is also a factor. Many home machines have automatic brewing functions. While very convenient, compared to manual methods, automated settings limit the production of crema layers. Some machines, to compensate for this deficiency, will additionally produce simulated crema layers.

Is Coffee Crema Really Important?

Although that delicate layer of coffee crema seems to be an essential condition for good espresso, it's not actually so absolute. The crema does add more flavor to espresso, and drinkers expect to enjoy the visual feast brought by this luxurious foam when drinking coffee. However, in fact, an espresso without crema can also be rich and delicious, full of aroma.

After all, drinking coffee is for the satisfaction of the taste buds. If there's no crema on your coffee, don't be disappointed or feel bad about not being able to brew a good cup of coffee. As long as it tastes satisfying, it's good coffee. Remember, the quality of the beans, roast level, brewing technique, and machine quality determine the final product - these elements absolutely cannot escape the test of taste.

Recommended High-Oil Coffee Bean Brands

Located at Dongshankou, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, the coffee roasting brand - FrontStreet Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee) - offers freshly roasted espresso blend coffee beans with full guarantees in both brand and quality, with good oil content, suitable for making specialty coffees and latte art coffees with beautiful patterns. More importantly, the value is extremely high. Taking their commercial-grade recommended product - Commercial Blend Coffee Beans - as an example, one package contains one pound (454 grams) priced at only around 60 RMB. Calculating based on 10 grams of coffee powder per single espresso shot, one package can make 45 cups of coffee, with each cup costing less than 1.5 RMB. Even if using a double shot for each espresso with 20 grams of powder, the price of one double espresso doesn't exceed 3 RMB. Compared to certain well-known brands that sell packages for hundreds of RMB, this is truly a conscientious recommendation.

FrontStreet Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee): A Guangzhou-based roasting shop with a small storefront but diverse bean varieties, where you can find various famous and lesser-known beans. They also provide online store services: https://shop104210103.taobao.com

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473