So, you've invested in an at-home espresso machine and are ready to become the best barista ever—congratulations! But when it comes to picking the correct espresso beans, where do you start? With our help, discover your taste preferences and elevate your coffee game. What is Espresso? If you translate the Italian word, espresso means "to press out," which happens to be the perfect way to describe the brewing process. Espresso is a small, highly caffeinated coffee made by pushing hot, pressurized water through finely ground beans. It's measured in "shots" rather than a cup, with one shot of espresso being around one ounce of liquid (though most machines pull in twos). The Invention of Espresso Surprise to none, espresso beans were first roasted and enjoyed in Venice, Italy, in the early half of the 1900s. When a man named Luigi Bezzera, a self-diagnosed coffee fanatic, grew annoyed that brewing coffee took so much time, he experimented with a machine to see if he could quicken the coffee process. After putzing around with steam pressure and different mechanics, he discovered a way to make a faster, stronger serving of coffee—and espresso was born. What Can You Make with Espresso Beans? When you stock up on whole espresso beans, your home coffee bar becomes your very own café! Once you choose your roast, just grab your milk of choice and your favorite mug and make any of the following beverages: Latte Cappuccino Americano Macchiato Flat white Cortado Con panna 5 Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing Espresso Beans With so many bags of espresso beans to choose from, how can you be sure you're making the right choice? As you shop, consider the answers to these five questions to find the right whole espresso beans for you: 1. Do You Prefer Light, Medium, or Dark Roasts? Whether switching from an average drip brewing method or perfecting your espresso palate, ask yourself which kinds of roast you love the most. Everyone has unique taste preferences when it comes to coffee. Shopping for an espresso bean that's been roasted at your desired level is the key to perfecting your shots. Light espresso beans are slightly more caffeinated and boast bright and clean flavors. Medium-roasted espresso is perfect for those interested in a smooth feel and balanced notes. Dark roasts, the most traditional choice for a whole espresso bean, are oily, rich, and deliciously bitter. The choice is yours. 2. Do You Want Robusta or Arabica Espresso Beans? Robusta and arabica are the two types of beans, and they couldn't be more different. For those starting on their espresso journey, it's best to stick to a 100% arabica blend, like our Knee Buckling Espresso, as it offers smooth consistency and a mild, crowd-pleasing flavor. Once you've mastered that taste, you can experiment with robusta blends of whole bean espresso (or 100% robusta if you're feeling brave) to enjoy a boost of caffeine, traditional dark taste, and extra foamy crema. Espresso Beans vs. Coffee Beans The only real difference between espresso beans and coffee beans is how they're roasted and brewed. "Coffee bean" is kind of an umbrella term—as long as a bean is properly roasted with espresso-making in mind, it should suffice! But rest assured, any bean, whether it's from Central America, Hawaii, or anywhere in between, can be made espresso-style, just like how a Rainforest Espresso whole bean can be ground and brewed to make a normal pot of coffee. 3. Do You Prefer Whole Espresso Beans with Complex Notes or a Simple Flavor? One of the most important questions to ask yourself when shopping for any kind of coffee is what kind of flavor profile you're looking for. If you want something rich, aromatic, and complex, you should keep a look out for any floral, fruity, or spicey descriptive coffee words. If you'd like to keep it more straightforward and classic, find a bag of whole espresso beans that sound pleasant and single-noted. 4. How Fresh Should Espresso Beans Be? The key to pulling a mouthwatering shot and perfecting a coffee drink is the freshness of your whole espresso beans. When you're shopping for beans, inquire about the freshness of each batch so you can get a good idea of when to use them. Typically, beans are best between 7 and 21 days after their roast date. While they never go "bad," they do begin to lose flavor and produce less crema the longer they are unused. Pro tip: Once espresso is ground, the countdown begins, typically giving you 1-2 weeks to use it up. However, if you store the grounds in an airtight container at room temperature, you can elongate their lifespan. 5. What's the Correct Grind for Espresso Beans? It is disappointing to open a brand new bag of delicious Java and realize your espresso was ground at the wrong level. Whole espresso beans should always be ground on the fine side—too coarse, and you'd get a weak brew, but too fine, and you'd find spare grounds swimming in your mug. Avoid this conundrum by investing in a high-quality grinder, where you can control every single batch to a T, or, when ordering online, trust our expert workers to grind it just fine enough for an espresso machine. Can Espresso Be Decaf? If you miss the powerful punch of an espresso shot, but have sworn to cut down on caffeine, don't worry. Decaf espresso is very much a real thing and is loved worldwide by coffee drinkers looking to enjoy their favorite latte without a jolt of energy. As long as the decaffeinated beans are ground fine enough to be properly pressurized through an espresso machine, it will do the job! 3 Tips for Storing Espresso Beans: Use these simple tips to keep your beans fresh and useable as long as possible: Tip #1: Use an airtight container, such as a Mason jar, metal canister, or vacuum-sealed bag. Tip #2: Avoid keeping the whole espresso beans in a place that gets too warm. Tip #3: Buy whole and grind each serving fresh to preserve each shot's intricate flavors. Once you've found a whole espresso bean you love, there's no going back! The next time you shop for coffee beans, ask yourself those five easy-to-answer questions to help guide your search and transform your coffee setup for good.
