What is Espresso?
Pop quiz: What defines espresso? Choose one or more of the following:
- Type of bean
- Roast
- Grind size
- Process
If you answered anything other than “Process” you’re not alone! In truth, any type of coffee, roast or grind can be used to make espresso. Some make better espresso than others, but what makes espresso espresso is the process of extracting.
For true espresso, the following conditions should be met:
- 200ÂşF water temperature
- 9 bars of pressure during extraction
- 25-30 seconds of extraction time
Adhering to those benchmarks will give you true espresso. Coming close will give you something close to espresso.
