Coffee Encyclopedia: What is Espresso? Does Concentrated Coffee Taste Bitter? The Correct Way to Drink Italian Coffee

Espresso may not appear on many coffee shop menus, but if you order it, the barista will serve you one. Don't worry if you don't know what Espresso is, because when you drink Italian coffee beverages like lattes and Americanos, you've already tasted it.

In China, Espresso basically exists as the base for lattes and Americanos, and few people order Espresso directly. The main reason is that its serving size is too small - including the crema, it's only about 50ml. Secondly, its taste is too intense for most people, usually表现为 both strong and bitter. FrontStreet Coffee has encountered many friends who learned about Espresso through books and came to try it, but their expressions after finishing it were mostly as follows:

Having such a reaction when drinking Espresso for the first time is very normal, because it does have a strong and bitter taste and mouthfeel, comparable to or even more intense than traditional Chinese medicine. Most people choose to drink Espresso mainly because it's the cheapest and quickest way to get caffeine and refresh their mind. As for the taste, that's not the primary goal.

Of course, although it's rare to find people who like drinking Espresso, FrontStreet Coffee managed to invite 3 customers who regularly drink Espresso to share why they love it.

Customer A said: Other coffees are too weak and don't have much coffee flavor. Only this Espresso has a rich enough coffee taste that feels comfortable to drink.

Customer B said: I love that rich vanilla flavor (FrontStreet Coffee uses Warm Sun blend to make Espresso), and then there's that very thick and smooth cream-like mouthfeel.

Customer C said: I love that feeling of bitterness giving way to sweetness. For 20 minutes after drinking Espresso, the entire mouth is filled with sweet coffee aroma.

The Unique Characteristics of Espresso

The aroma, mouthfeel, and aftertaste of Espresso are difficult to imitate with other coffees. Freshly made Espresso is quickly delivered to your table. When you bring the small cup near your nose, you can immediately smell the rich nutty cream aroma - that fragrance is very full-bodied.

The mouthfeel is also where Espresso takes the most pride. When evaluating whether a cup of Espresso is qualified, a rich and delicate Crema is one of the indispensable standards. The presence of Crema provides Espresso with a mellow and full-bodied mouthfeel. Taking it all in one go, the Crema envelops your mouth and tongue with a cream-like sensation.

Espresso's taste is indeed among the most bitter in the coffee category, but this doesn't mean that bitter coffee is bad coffee. FrontStreet Coffee mentioned in articles about coffee sensory evaluation that bitterness is divided into flavors represented by dark chocolate and caramel, versus uncomfortable tastes represented by scorched bitterness. A good Espresso has the bitter flavor notes of dark chocolate and caramel.

Another highlight of Espresso is its long aftertaste. After swallowing the coffee, if you don't drink water or eat other food, your mouth will release a rich coffee aroma.

How to Drink Espresso Properly

Finally, there are 3 considerations when drinking Espresso to enhance the experience:

- Drink a sip of clean water first to cleanse your palate before drinking coffee;
- Take a small spoon and gently stir the coffee;
- Finish it within 2 minutes.

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473