What is the Definition of Espresso Coffee? Is There a Big Difference Between Blended and Single-Origin Coffee Beans?

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FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Single Origin and Blended Coffee Differences

Espresso is a type of coffee with an intense flavor profile, prepared by forcing very hot but not boiling water under high pressure through finely ground coffee powder.

In terms of texture, espresso has a thicker consistency than drip coffee and contains more dissolved solids per unit volume. It's typically served in "shots." Chemically, espresso is complex and variable, with many components that break down due to oxidation or temperature reduction. Properly prepared espresso has a distinctive characteristic—the presence of crema, a reddish-brown foam that floats on the surface. It's composed of vegetable oils, proteins, and sugars. Crema combines elements of both emulsions and foam colloids.

The short, high-pressure brewing process concentrates the unique flavors of coffee, making them more intense than other brewing methods. However, the shorter extraction time results in lower caffeine content. Espresso often serves as the base for coffee drinks mixed with other ingredients (such as milk or cocoa powder), such as lattes, cappuccinos, macchiatos, and mochas, without overly diluting the coffee components.

Single Origin Coffee

Just as its name suggests: single origin, indeed—coffee beans from the same variety and origin come to your cup. If you're a black coffee enthusiast reading this article, you might think, "I often get asked this question: why do I need to pay an extra $0.5 for each cup of black coffee?"

The answer is quite simple. Single origin coffee is typically specialty coffee; it's seasonal (thus limited in production) and is often used by farmers, roasters, and baristas to showcase their techniques and skills. As for your taste buds, you'll typically experience many different flavors. Here's a small memo about possible flavors in single origin coffee (remember: this memo is only useful when tasting black coffee):

Central & South American Coffee:

Colombia, Nicaragua, Brazil—chocolate, nuts, caramel

African Coffee:

Ethiopia, Tanzania, Rwanda—sweet, acidic, nutty, lemony, sometimes tart

Asian Coffee:

India, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea—fruity, spicy, savory

Blended Coffee

75% of people who order a milk-based coffee—flat white or latte—will get a cup of specially blended coffee from the café. Another cooler way to put it in coffee terminology is: coffee made from a mixture of beans from multiple origins. Roasters simultaneously roast two to four types of coffee beans from different origins and growing countries, with each type roasted in a different way.

To provide your favorite coffee flavors, they are all mixed according to different ratios (roasting and blending). Coffee is a natural product from plants, so it's a living, constantly changing thing. Every time you roast coffee, you also need to taste its flavor. Mixing about three different types of coffee beans to achieve balanced and delicious flavors is truly a technical skill.

At FrontStreet Coffee, we not only offer over 30 varieties of single origin coffee to choose from, but also espresso beans blended from pure Arabica beans, with more distinct and pleasant flavors.

Knowledge Point: Single Origin Espresso is also called SOE

In short: FrontStreet Coffee is a coffee research establishment that enjoys sharing coffee knowledge with everyone. We share without reservation just to help more friends fall in love with coffee. Every month, we have three coffee promotion events with significant discounts because FrontStreet Coffee wants to let more friends enjoy the best coffee at the lowest possible price. This has been FrontStreet Coffee's mission for the past 6 years!

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473