How to Describe the Flavor and Mouthfeel of Espresso | Characteristics of Espresso Beans and Proper Brewing Methods

Understanding Espresso: The Intense Coffee Experience

Although FrontStreet Coffee's menu doesn't explicitly list espresso, customers seeking bold flavors often request "a shot of Espresso" and exclaim "how satisfying" after drinking it. So what flavors does this "intense" espresso offer? FrontStreet Coffee is here to discuss how espresso should be properly enjoyed.

What Makes Quality Espresso?

Espresso refers to the liquid extracted by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee beans under appropriate conditions (high temperature, high pressure) using an espresso machine, resulting in a rich, aromatic, and full-bodied beverage with abundant crema. This intense flavor profile isn't for everyone, so when serving an espresso, baristas typically provide a glass of water to help guests cleanse their palate and alleviate the stimulating taste.

An ideal espresso should have abundant, dense golden-brown crema, with rich and balanced flavors of acidity, sweetness, bitterness, and body upon tasting, full aroma, and a clean aftertaste. As the soul of any coffee shop, to ensure all espresso-based drinks showcase their best flavors and textures, baristas work daily to craft the perfect espresso shot.

What Flavors Does Espresso Have?

Espresso was invented in the early 19th century when Italians developed it to extract a rich cup of coffee quickly. Traditional espresso, due to the use of extremely dark-roasted coffee beans and the inclusion of oil-rich Robusta beans, had a strong burnt and bitter flavor that needed to be sipped slowly. However, with the rise of specialty coffee in recent years, improvements in coffee bean quality and extraction techniques, and coffee enthusiasts' pursuit of flavor and texture, today's espresso is no longer limited to just burnt and bitter notes.

FrontStreet Coffee believes that regardless of extraction method, coffee's flavor profile depends on the beans used. Espresso beans are mainly divided into blends and single-origin coffees. Unlike pour-over coffee, espresso is extracted from extremely fine coffee grounds under high temperature and pressure above 9 bar, creating a concentrated coffee that gathers all the various flavors. If espresso were made from light-roasted, acidic coffee beans, it would likely present a sharp, stimulating acidity. Therefore, most coffee shops use medium to dark roast blended beans, utilizing complementary regional flavors from different coffees to balance taste while ensuring stable extraction.

For example, FrontStreet Coffee uses its house-roasted Sunflower Warm Sun Blend, created by combining FrontStreet Coffee's Honduras Sherry Barrel Coffee and FrontStreet Coffee's Sun-dried Yirgacheffe Red Cherry Coffee in a 7:3 ratio, with medium-dark roasting.

The extracted espresso has a dense layer of crema, which we call Crema, emitting a rich whiskey aroma. Espresso is extracted under high pressure, causing carbon dioxide in the coffee grounds to reach a supersaturated state due to excessive pressure. Unable to release, the carbon dioxide integrates into the coffee liquid. When extraction is complete and atmospheric pressure returns to normal, the carbon dioxide remaining in the coffee liquid encounters oils as it prepares to return to the air, becoming trapped by these oils and flowing into the cup before gradually escaping.

After appreciating the aroma, gently stir the thick espresso in the cup with a small spoon to ensure even consistency, then begin tasting to experience the palate sensations it brings to your mouth and tongue. Upon tasting, FrontStreet Coffee detects flavors of vanilla, nuts, and tropical fruits, with a creamy foam layer, full aromas, and substantial texture. The aftertaste presents fermented wine notes, and after drinking some water, a noticeable sweet aftertaste emerges.

When FrontStreet Coffee uses another FrontStreet Coffee specialty blend, made from Brazilian and Colombian coffees in a 7:3 ratio, the extracted espresso offers rich notes of dark chocolate, caramel, and roasted hazelnuts, with sweet clarity, smooth texture, and a very long-lasting aftertaste, making it suitable for daily café service.

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Important Notice :

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FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473