Five Major Factors Affecting Espresso Coffee_How Many Coffee Beans for Espresso Concentrate_How Many Grams of Espresso Coffee Beans

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The Foundation of Espresso Coffee

The flavor of espresso coffee primarily depends on the espresso itself, making it occupy a particularly important position. Coffee flavor is influenced by dose, grind size, extraction yield, extraction time, and temperature.

Key Variables in Espresso Extraction

Dose

Based on the characteristics of espresso beans, select an appropriate dose. For first-time use of coffee beans, it is recommended to use a 20-gram dose. The dose serves as one of the two major variables in coffee flavor. If the dose changes, the water quantity setting on the coffee machine must be adjusted accordingly because extraction ratios need to be considered. Similarly, for first-time use of espresso beans, the extraction ratio should be 1:2, meaning 20 grams of coffee grounds extract 40 milliliters of espresso.

Grind Size

This is also one of the two major variables, and baristas need to constantly observe the state of espresso as it extracts. If there are changes, the grind size should be adjusted immediately. Simply put, grind size refers to the coarseness or fineness of the coffee powder. Imagine this: if the coffee particles are larger, after tamping, there will still be larger gaps in the coffee puck, making it easier for water from the group head to pass through the puck. The final result is fast espresso flow velocity, higher acidity in flavor, and thin consistency. Conversely, if the coffee particles are finer, after tamping, there will be smaller gaps in the coffee puck, making it more difficult for water from the group head to pass through the puck, resulting in slow espresso flow velocity, lower acidity in flavor, and thick consistency.

Extraction Yield

This is a dependent variable that changes according to alterations in dose. For a specific coffee bean, there is no need to frequently change the dose and extraction yield unless the bean blend is changed or the barista wants to adjust the extraction flavor profile.

Extraction Time

In the preparation of espresso coffee, extraction time is completely a dependent variable. Unlike pour-over coffee, where extraction time can be determined based on grind size or water pouring time. Here, extraction time entirely depends on the grind size.

Temperature

The boiler water temperature of the coffee machine also has a certain impact on the coffee. It can be summarized as: higher temperature results in lower acidity, while lower temperature results in higher acidity. Therefore, we should analyze the beans we use and adjust the coffee machine's water temperature accordingly. Generally, the temperature ranges from 92 to 97 degrees Celsius.

Evaluating Espresso Quality

After making a cup of espresso, we evaluate whether the coffee is balanced based on sweetness, acidity, and bitterness, ensuring no single aspect overwhelms the other flavors. A well-extracted espresso should be balanced in all aspects and possess different flavor layers. Not just in terms of flavor, but we can also judge a cup by its mouthfeel—whether the consistency is appropriate, and it must not have astringency, as this would affect the entire mouthfeel. For experienced baristas and coffee enthusiasts, the quality of coffee can be distinguished by just one cup of espresso. Therefore, we need to train our taste buds and skillfully use standards and specifications to taste coffee.

Recommended Espresso Coffee Bean Brands

Located at Dongshankou in Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, FrontStreet Coffee is a coffee roasting brand whose freshly roasted espresso beans offer complete assurance in both brand and quality. More importantly, they offer extremely high value for money. Taking their commercially recommended product—the Commercial Blend Coffee Bean—as an example, one 454-gram (one-pound) package costs only about 60 yuan. Calculating based on 10 grams of coffee grounds per single espresso shot, one package can make 45 cups of coffee, with each cup costing less than 1.5 yuan. Even if using a double shot for each espresso serving at 20 grams of grounds, the cost of one double espresso does not exceed 3 yuan. Compared to some well-known brands that sell packages for hundreds of yuan, this is truly a conscientious recommendation.

FrontStreet Coffee: A roastery in Guangzhou with a small shop but diverse bean varieties, where you can find both famous and lesser-known beans. They also provide online store services at 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