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In general, it is usually quite normal to confuse a coffee with an espresso. When you don’t know the difference between the two, you can’t enjoy the best of each other. While coffee and espresso are made from the same coffee beans, they do have some differences. Some of these differences are flavor, preparation, and even appearance.
The so-called espresso coffee is a strong black coffee. Tight coffee beans are forced with hot water. This extraction procedure seeks to give distinctive layers to coffee. Therefore, at the bottom, you will find a shot of coffee. Then a layer of cream or foam is placed on top.
Regular coffee offers a milder flavor and a different procedure. The mills combine with hot water for a longer time. In this way, the grinding is normally thicker when compared to espresso coffee. On the other hand, the dripping or pouring process or the immersion route can be used, such as using a French press. However, the result will not include cream.
What is Coffee?
Classic coffee is probably the best-known drink of all. Therefore to mention that it is coffee we must refer to its style. For the preparation, it is used in coffee beans of different types. This is because in the world there are different types of coffee beans. So you can find coffee beans from China, Africa, or Latin America, among others.
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Once you have the coffee beans they go through a grinding. In this way, each coffee bean is ground so that it can be diluted in the hot water. Then coffee is usually prepared through the drip process. Simply the hot water is mixed over time with the ground coffee beans.
Moreover, you can find the typical instant coffee. These are coffee beans that are already ground, so you can skip this step. Just add hot water and stir. However, many people prefer the typical coffee with the drip procedure over instant coffee.
What is Espresso?
An espresso shares some similarities with normal coffee. One of them is that you can prepare espresso coffee with the same coffee beans that you have. Although the preparation is a little different. There are probably even coffee machines that can’t make espresso.
Only a small amount of water is used to prepare espresso coffee. To get the right point, the water used is at a high temperature, that is, it is almost boiling. After obtaining the correct water temperature, it is forced to use pressure. This is a procedure that is applied to ground coffee beans.
The result of this procedure is a thicker coffee because it has less dissolution than ground coffee beans. On the other hand, when preparing espresso coffee, the aim is to obtain a layered drink. Other ingredients, such as liqueurs or cream, can be included in some of these layers. Furthermore, each of the layers can be differentiated if they are served in a transparent cup.
What Is Espresso Crema?
Espresso coffee is a very popular drink these days. Also, we can find a wide variety of espressos. One of them is espresso crema, but how do you get it? For this, we must explain the specific preparation that it entails. This is because each style of espresso coffee has a different procedure.
When we refer to the volume, the cream is carbon dioxide gas. It is a gas that is formed during the roasting process of coffee beans. Therefore this gas is trapped within the cellular structure of coffee. Therefore, once the coffee beans are ground, almost boiling water is used under pressure.
This procedure produces the effect normally known as flowering. It is simply the carbon dioxide gas expelled and expanded. Specifically, the espresso machine ends up forcing carbon dioxide to form microscopic bubbles. The accumulated microscopic bubbles are what we know as the cream.
The Big Difference Between Coffee and Espresso
Usually, there are big differences between coffee and espresso. The classic way to make coffee is by using hot water and slow filtration. Furthermore, most espresso machines use pressurized near-boiling water to prepare the final drink. Besides, this gives the final coffee a different aroma and texture.
However, even though espresso is brewed in much less time than regular coffee, there are also other differences. One of them is the size of the grinding. On the one hand, normal coffee has a coarser grind of the beans. In this way, a balance is achieved in the release of the flavor of each coffee bean.
Espresso coffee has a much smaller grind. In this way, preparation with greater efficiency is achieved. It is also an essential step for subsequent pressurization. Along with this, the texture of each drink is different. In the case of espresso coffee, a thicker texture is sought than normal coffee.
Is Espresso Bad For You?
It often happens that many people believe that espresso coffee is bad for health. However, this is not entirely true. If it should be mentioned that espresso coffee, as well as normal coffee, can be negative for health on certain occasions. Like many things in life, consuming too much caffeine per day can be harmful.
Of course, caffeine corresponds to the amount of ground coffee used in a drink. This is not related to the procedure, but the ingredients of the drink. Also, both espresso and regular coffee can offer several health benefits. By following the proper amount of caffeine per day, you can improve your health.
Espresso coffee includes very high levels of antioxidants. On the other hand, it manages to stimulate nerve activity positively. This is accomplished by decreasing the parasympathetic nervous system, rather than stimulating the hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenal area. Besides, it improves blood sugar levels and can eliminate some headaches.
How Much Caffeine Is in A Shot of Espresso?
When we consider a regular size of espresso, that is to say, a shot, then the caffeine level is 77 mg. This does not exceed 400 mg of caffeine per day, which is a healthy limit. Exceeding this amount per day means getting certain health problems. However, you could take several shots of espresso per day without your health declining.
A shot of espresso is usually called a shot. This particular drink is made with 44 ml of water and 7 grams of ground coffee. On the other hand, there are different styles of espresso shots. One of them is the double shot of espresso. Although, in these cases, the allowed limit per day is far from being exceeded. The amount of caffeine can vary between 58 mg and 185 mg.
How to Drink Espresso?
Maybe you might not know it, but there is a specific way to drink your espresso. First, you must have the correct rate. It will be enough to have a white porcelain cup, with an elliptical shape, and that offers a capacity between 50 and 100 ml.
To better enjoy your espresso, you should add a glass of sparkling water. This is an optional step but it turns out to be highly recommended. This water is used to completely cleanse your palate. In this way, you can better enjoy your next sip of espresso.
Last and very important, do not forget about the cream. The typical espresso cream is obtained with the co2 trapped in the cellular structure of the coffee beans. This allows two benefits to be obtained. On the one hand, your espresso will have a more pleasant appearance. On the other hand, its flavor will be more exquisite and spectacular.
Types of Espresso Shots
Today you can find various types of espresso shots.
Latte: It is a classic latte with steam and foam. A rich and sweet stimulating option that is ideal for mornings.
Cappuccino: In this case, the cappuccino is prepared with a part of espresso and covered with steamed milk. The difference with the latte is that it does not have foam on top.
Ristretto: In this case, it is simply a shot of espresso. Therefore, it is just a fancy word for a simple drink.
Macchiato: To obtain this drink, only equal parts of steamed milk and espresso are incorporated.
Americano: Here the espresso coffee is mixed with some hot water. This softens the strong flavor of the espresso.
Mocha: Another complex option is the mocha. This drink is espresso coffee with chocolate and steamed milk, to finish on top with whipped cream.
Red Eye: It is a drink that offers a part of drip coffee with a part of espresso.
Espresso Your Love for Coffee
Day after day, the way of making and serving coffee or espresso is perfected. You can find everything from large round cups to lattes served in long glasses. Therefore, getting the right type of espresso for you will be much easier.
For this, it is convenient to be aware of the latest trends in the cafeteria. In this way, you can enjoy your espresso with different accompaniments. In conclusion, you can experience the best flavors of coffee.