Do you love Espressos? These pint-sized coffee drinks are a favorite beverage for people who don’t like to drink a lot of coffee to get their caffeine kick.
The term Espresso means “express” or “instant.” These words describe the Espresso brewing method perfectly.
You can brew an Espresso using an Aeropress, Moka Pot, or an Espresso machine. They take less time to prepare than regular beverages but pack quite a punch.
All it takes to make Espresso is to force hot water at high pressure over fine coffee grounds for 30 seconds, and you have a tiny cup of highly concentrated, thick, and flavorful coffee.
Some people like Espresso for its small quantity because you don’t need to drink a lot of coffee to get your caffeine. While others love it for its signature creamy and aromatic crema.
The fact that Espresso is used as a base for other caffeinated drinks makes it popular too.
You can make Caffe Lattes, Cappuccinos, Espresso Con Pannas, and Americanos using one or two Espresso shots.
It’s a versatile coffee beverage that every coffee drinker would love to know how to brew.
One of the things that people would like to know is how many coffee beans are used to brew Espresso. Others are;
- Best coffee beans for making Espresso
- How to grind coffee beans for Espresso making
- The ideal brewing time for brewing Espressos
Let’s find the answers to these questions.
The Amount of Coffee Beans to Use in an Espresso
Two factors determine how many coffee beans you use to brew an Espresso: the type of coffee beans used and the coffee bean roast.
The amount of coffee beans or grounds you use to brew Espresso is determined by whether you are brewing a single shot or double shot.
It takes 71 coffee beans to make a single shot of Espresso and 142 coffee beans to make a double shot. That translates to 6 – 8 grams of coffee grounds for a shot and 15 – 16 grams for a double shot.
Espresso is usually brewed using dark roasted coffee beans that have been roasted longer than those used to brew drip coffee. These beans typically have a deep, toasted, nutty flavor. They produce lots of oils that result in an aromatic and flavorful brew with a rich mouth – feel.
The proper ground coffee to water ratio for brewing Espresso is 1: 2. You’ll know your Espresso is brewed just right if it produces a sweet aromatic crema that’s foamy, thick, and caramel-colored.
A single shot of Espresso contains 63 mg of caffeine, while an 8 – ounce cup of regular coffee contains 120 mg.
That means Espressos contain more caffeine per ounce than regular coffee because an Espresso only weighs an ounce while a regular coffee is 6 – 8 ounces.
An Espresso is the best choice if you want a highly caffeinated coffee beverage that takes little time to drink.
The Best Type of Coffee Beans for Brewing Espresso
The variety and type of coffee beans you use to brew Espresso will determine how good it tastes.
You can use Arabica coffee beans which make a smooth-tasting Espresso if brewed just right, or Robusta coffee beans if you need a rich-tasting brew.
Dark roast blends of Arabica or Robusta coffee beans are better than single variety coffee beans when it comes to brewing Espresso. They give it a flavorful, balanced taste that most coffee drinkers appreciate.
But does that mean you can only use dark roasts to make Espresso? No. You can also use medium or medium – dark roast coffee beans but expect the resulting brew to be weaker than a regular Espresso.
How to Grind Coffee Beans for Espresso
Some skills are necessary for anyone who wants to be an expert Espresso coffee maker. These are grinding coffee beans, tamping, and measuring the time you pass hot water through the coffee grounds.
Tamping is essential during espresso coffee making because it ensures coffee grounds are equally distributed in the Espresso machine portafilter. That will ensure even extraction of coffee from the grounds when hot water is pressurized through them.
The grind determines how long it takes to brew an espresso. The best grind size for making Espresso is a fine grind that’s less coarse than sand.
A double shot should not take more than 30 seconds to make. Otherwise, an excess amount of coffee oils will be mixed into the coffee, making it taste bitter.
How to Brew an Espresso
Now that you know what it takes to make an Espresso, you should try to make one at home. The more you practice how to brew Espresso, the better the results. Here is a simple Espresso brewing recipe.
Ingredients
Espresso coffee beans
Burr grinder
An espresso machine
Water
Procedure
- Turn on your Espresso machine and give it a few minutes to heat up.
- Grind the Espresso coffee beans to a texture that’s finer than sand.
- Pack the Espresso coffee machine portafilter with coffee grounds ensuring they are evenly distributed without any gaps.
- Tamp the coffee grounds in the portafilter firmly with a tamper making sure the top of the coffee grounds is straight and even for consistent brewing.
- Lock the portafilter into the Espresso machine, position a demitasse cup under it, and pressurize hot water through the coffee grounds.
- It should only take 25 – 30 seconds to brew two shots of Espresso. Aim for an Espresso shot that’s caramel brown with tones of blond and a rich crema.
- Enjoy your Espresso!
Conclusion
Now that you know how many coffee beans you need to brew Espresso, here’s what to remember the next time you brew it.
- Use the freshest coffee beans and grind them just before brewing the coffee.
- Use a burr grinder to grind espresso coffee grounds instead of buying pre-ground coffee to ensure a fresh tasting brew.
- Measure the coffee beans and grounds on a scale to find the perfect measurement of coffee beans or grounds to brew great Espresso.
- Espresso brewing time should not exceed more than 30 seconds.
- If you are unsure of the coffee beans to use in your Espresso, pick those labeled Espresso beans because they are roasted explicitly for Espresso – making.
- You can use a Moka pot, an Aeropress, or a French press to brew Espresso if you don’t have a coffee maker.
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