Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Hair Bender
Indonesian coffee beans are world-famous for their rich flavors. South American and African beans are known for their distinctly classic coffee taste.
The Stumptown Hair Bender blend does an excellent job combining beans from these regions to retain their best qualities. Also, its one of the most affordable options on this list!
- Flavor: A cup of Hair Bender Blend has clarity and complexity Indonesias rich textures are balanced by the classic flavors of Latin America and Africa. 100% Arabica coffee with tasting notes of citrus and dark chocolate.
Stumptown is another roaster that has become synonymous with quality in recent years. The Hair Bender is their most popular coffee and with good reason!
This traditionally sweet blend will guarantee a consistent quality shot day after day.
Verena Street: Shot Tower Espresso Dark Roast
These beans are perfect for anyone searching for robust flavor without the bitter, burnt taste of many dark roasts. Some say the flavor of these beans is a little over the top, especially in espresso, but others are looking for exactly that.
The rich flavor of this coffee makes it a must-try. Next time youre thinking about expanding your coffee horizons, look no further than Verna Street. With their fantastic taste, low acidity, and creamy texture these beans need to be on your hitlist.
The Best Coffee Beans For Espresso: Our Top Picks
Are you looking for the best coffee beans for espresso? Then, we have all you need.
Coffee is one of the most popular drinks globally, and there are many different ways to make it. For example, espresso is a coffee made by forcing hot water through finely-ground coffee. It is usually served in small cups.
If you love espresso, you know that the key to making a great cup is using the best espresso beans.
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Other Pitfalls To Avoid When Buying The Best Espresso Beans
Buying Beans Identified by Brewing Style
A common pitfall when buying beans is buying beans identified as espresso beans on the label. A consumer may immediately think this is the ideal bean for their espresso maker only to find out those beans do not produce a coffee like they tasted while on vacation in Italy.
The first thing to know is there is no such thing as espresso beans. There are only coffee beans. Espresso is a method of brewing those beans. Other brewing method include drip, pour over, French press, Aeropress, and so on. The beans labelled espresso could be used in any of these brewing methods.
Buying Beans Identified with a County or Geographic Region
Dont fall victim to the terms and language used on packaging to make your bean choice for espresso.
A common way to label of identify beans is by the nation most associated with a certain coffee brewing style. You may see Italian, French, etc. on the labels. There is the assumption that both of these roasts may be ideal coffee beans to use in your espresso machine. While both of these countries are certainly espresso drinkers, there is a wide range of preference.
In Italy, for example, the profile of an espresso in Naples is quite different than the espresso you will find in Northern Italy. The same holds true in France.
Arabica Vs Robusta Beans
Most espresso, and indeed most coffee we drink, is made from two main species of coffee: Arabica and Robusta.
Coffee connoisseurs know that Arabica is the more elegant and complex of the two, and generally tastier due to its higher fat and sugar content. That doesnt mean Robusta doesnt have its place, though. Robusta has more caffeine, so it is frequently used in blends that are going for a kick. Its also easier to farm, and therefore less expensive.
Craft Coffee Guru has more on the differences between these two beans. Click on the image if you want to do a deep dive.
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Melitta Caffeo Ci Bean
Best bean-to-cup coffee machine for busy households
Pros:
- Milk container is a little clumsy
Star rating: 4.5/5
Wattage: 1500W
This coffee machine can make two drinks simultaneously, which will be of huge benefit to busy families who have to push to get out of the door in the morning. This is a premium machine that delivers consistently good coffee that’s rich, flavoursome and aromatic with a smooth and reliable crema. We did think the detachable milk container was a little impractical. But, all in all, this machine will give you everything you need to produce professional standard coffees in a convenient way. Read our full Melitta Caffeo Cl coffee machine review.
Available from:
Coffee Beans Used For Espresso
Coffee beans used to make espresso are usually of the Arabica Coffee bean varietal though Robusta coffee beans are also used in some espresso blends.
While Robusta beans are generally considered lower quality than Arabica, they are well known to produce a nicer crema and contain higher levels of caffeine. Because they’re roasted so dark, the differences in quality between between Arabica and Robusta beans become less pronounced.
Espresso coffee beans are usually given a very Dark Roast, though some people do prefer lighter roasts this is a matter of personal taste and any roast can be used in espresso making equipment.
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Type Of Espresso: Lungo Short Or Flat
Lungo espresso is made with about twice as much coffee as a short or flat espresso.
Its usually served in a larger cup and can be more complex in flavor than either short or flat espressos.
The standard roast level for lungo espresso is medium-to-dark roast.
Short espresso is made with about one-third the amount of coffee as a lungo and is usually served in a small cup.
It has a slightly sweeter flavor and is typically used for making cappuccinos and other milk-based drinks.
The standard roast level for short espressos is a light roast.
Flat espressos are made with just enough coffee to make an inch of foam at high pressure and are often used as an alternative to drip coffee.
The standard roast level for flat espressos is pre-ground deca
The Best Coffee Beans For Your Breville Espresso Machine
by Kuba Czudek | Coffee
But how should you pick the right coffee beans, and what are the things you should be looking for? In this blog post, we will discuss the most important aspects of choosing the right coffee beans for your Breville espresso machine. Well also give you some tips on how to choose the right beans according to your taste preferences.
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Taking Care Of Your Coffee Beans
Finding the perfect beans for your espresso is really a process. It required research, time, and patience. So once you have found those beloved beans, be sure to take good care of them. Here what you need to do:
- Store the beans in a manner that protects them from air, heat, and moisture. It is not essential to buy special containers. Reseal bags and place in a dry cupboard away from sunlight.
- Do not put beans in the fridge or freezer, no matter what anyone says. The moisture that accumulates on the bean can cause issues for use in super automatic espresso machines. Additionally, the moisture build up impacts the taste. Additionally, beans will absorb smell from nearby foods.
It may seem it would be difficult to achieve a great tasting espresso at home. It is not. Do not get discouraged. To make good espresso at home, you need not be a professional roaster, but you should be an informed consumer. Finding the perfect espresso will take time and patience. Before you buy consider at minimum the following:
The next step will be to make espresso in your machine: experiment with the grind and intensity to see if the beans you chose produce an espresso the way you like it.
Is Espresso Bad For High Blood Pressure
Do you struggle with high blood pressure? How about a family history of heart attack or stroke? Coffee is pretty healthy in moderation, but can still be too much for some brewers.
The large amount of antioxidants in coffee are very healthy for you in the long-term, as long as you don’t constantly pad out your drink with sugar. On the other hand, the caffeine count and cholesterol count can set you back.
If you’re worried about side-effects of regular coffee drinking, consider the following:
Try Some Decaf
Too much caffeine consumption can increase your risk for heart palpitations, high blood pressure, and sleep difficulties. A little decaf can solve that!
A standard mug of decaf coffee has a mere two to three milligrams of caffeine, compared to the over sixty-five milligrams of regular bags.
Most of the roasters we feature on this list have a few decaf coffees to their name. Consider giving them a try when you need to wind down for the evening.
Balance Espresso with Drip
As we explored in the previous question, espresso has a higher cholesterol count due to lacking a paper or cloth filter. By comparison, drip coffee made in a coffeemaker or a pour over is a little more heart-healthy.
Why not have the best of both worlds? Brush up on your coffee skills and try different brewing methods. You’ll get a healthier cup and more variety in your coffee, since a single bag can taste different depending on the brewing method and grind level. A win-win!
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Do You Prefer Adventurous Flavor Or Consistency
That is an important question to ask yourself and to give good consideration to when selecting espresso beans. If you are looking for a adventurous flavor then a medium dark single roast or two bean blend or do you prefer a more consistent, more traditional espresso taste with a touch more flavor than you are perhaps better looking at the 4 dark roast profiles and worth considering a proper single origin bean that is roasted to a dark roast.
If you cant find a suitable single origin the roasting to a full city roast the lightest of the dark roasts is a project you can take on after joining the home roasting revolution.
Black Ink Coffee Espresso Blend
To begin with, Blank Ink Coffee is subscription service and specialty coffee business that offers quality beans. You can get excellent coffees for drip and espresso.
Blank Ink Coffee Company gives you their Espresso Blend that is their take on a traditional Italian style espresso beverage. As opposed to being fruity and floral, this blend is dark and smoky. It will perform well with milk and cream if you want a rich and creamy espresso beverage.
This blend delivers a delicious and strong coffee flavor. Aside from that, the beans are aged and dark roasted to help provide maximum crema in your shot of espresso.
However, it seems you canât use it for drip. This coffee is only recommended for those with an espresso machine as it is quite strong. You should also use a separate grinder to grind the beans as they are darker and oily.
In the end, if youâve gone through a lot of espresso beans and didnât find the right one, then this blend might be the one youâre looking for. I recommend trying a blend of coffees for espresso if youâre looking for optimal flavor.
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Are Coffee Beans And Espresso Beans The Same
Let’s start off with one of the most common questions: are coffee beans and espresso beans the same?
While all espresso beans are coffee, not all coffee is espresso. Espresso beans are usually roasted dark to create the most chocolatey, creamy espresso shots.
You can still occasionally find medium-roasted espresso beans, which will be explicitly stated on the front or back of the bag.
General Rules For Buying Espresso Beans:
No matter what your taste is, make sure you follow the general rules of buying beans.
- Freshness buy freshly roasted coffee beans, if buying from a small roaster. If you buy from a larger roaster, make sure you understand how they package the coffee. Look for a far expiration date. Even if the coffee was flushed with nitrogen or vacuum packed, you dont want to buy a coffee thats been on the shelf for a year.
- Get your coffee in small quantities. If you buy too much coffee it will go stale in your pantry.
- Buy only quality coffee, dont buy average. Poor quality coffee will taste bad. Good coffee is picked when its fully riped, and manually sorted to eliminate bad beans.
- Always buy whole beans. If you dont own a good coffee grinder, your espresso is doomed to be lifeless after your first few days into your pack of ground coffee.
- Make sure you know who your roaster is. There is nothing wrong to test a new roaster, but at least get some references from the local coffee lovers, if you do.
- For small local roasters, it is wise to look at how they store their roasted beans. Even if the roast date says 7 days ago, if coffee is stored improperly, is almost stale.
- Avoid coffee that is untraceable. If you cant know where the coffee comes from, then its probably poor quality.
- Arabica is the best coffee and espressos made from Arabica beans are delicious. However, 5% to 15% Robusta beans in a blend will give your shot more crema.
Featured image credit: Free-Photos, Pixabay
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Top Shelf Grind Company: Black Diamond Dark Roast
- Beans sourced from Colombia
This is a relatively new player on the coffee scene but they are certainly making an impact. This is not coffee for a casual espresso drinker, instead, its meant for people whove outgrown their regular cup of joe and need something a little stronger.
The title of strongest coffee gets won and lost on a regular basis but for now, Top Shelf Black Dimond is making the most caffeinated java on the market. How long will that last? Im not sure. Having said that, I dont want you to try it because its strong, I want you to drink it because its really good.
These roasters got everything right with these beans, they are ideal for espresso. The coffee has the right amount of boldness, the aroma is irresistible, and when pulled correctly the crema is heavenly.
Another reason to feel good about these roasters is the responsible sourcing of the beans. The company remains eco-friendly and is so sure youll enjoy your purchase they offer a full refund for anyone who doesnt.
Coffee Beans For Espresso Buying Guide
Of course, you need your machine to get an excellent espresso blend and all. You can find some great espresso maker suggestions in this article here.
Here is the thing though, no matter how sophisticated your espressos maker is, youd never drink good espresso if you get it wrong with the beans
On the other hand, if you know what you are doing, you can easily make excellent espresso with just a basic espresso machine if you took your time to purchase these coffee beans for espresso.
What differentiates espresso from regular coffee is the brewing process involved
These are the specific conditions/brewing process to make good espresso:
- You need to extract the coffee from the beans in 200°F of water temperature.
- With 9 bars of pressure.
- For 30 seconds.
Getting that amount of pressure is the primary reason it is preferable to get a dedicated espresso machine if you want a perfect drink.
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Eight O’clock Coffee Dark Italian Espresso Dark Roast Whole Bean Coffee 32 Ounce 100% Arabica Kosher Certified
Eight O’ Clock Coffee is keen on providing you with the best espresso around. Right off the bat they stress their extra dark roast, ultra fine grind, and kosher certification.
If that wasn’t enough, this roaster has been around for a century and a half. It’s no surprise they deliver on all fronts. This coffee bag blends dark chocolate with creamy caramel notes, resulting in a bitter-yet-sweet contrast you won’t be able to put down.
It can be difficult to capture all the nuances of coffee with a dark roast, which makes this bag all the more impressive.
Who Should Drink This?
Drink this coffee black, with milk, or with a dollop of sugar. It’s traditional enough to suit just about any brewing method, yet just complex enough to stand out.
Arabica Or Robusta Beanwhats That Mean
As you check out the bags of whole bean coffee weve linked above, youll more than likely find words like Arabica and Robusta in the product descriptions or printed on the front of the bag. But what do these words mean, and how do they impact your coffee experience?
Though there are dozens of varieties of coffee beans, the two most popular are Arabica and Robusta. Arabica beans, which tend to grow in higher elevations and predominantly in Latin America, usually have a soft and sweet taste, while Robusta blends are stronger with a lower acidity and can be found exclusively in the Eastern Hemisphere.
A lot of the coffee youd find in your grocery store is Robusta because its easier to grow, but many popular coffee brands and shops, including Starbucks Coffee, pride themselves on using 100% Arabica beans. But just because Arabica is a common shop favorite does not automatically mean they are the best coffee beans for everyone. Which bean you think is best among the two depends mostly on your personal taste, however, many prefer Arabica beans because they contain less caffeine and a less bitter flavor.
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