There are oodles of espresso machines on the market. Some espresso makers, called bean-to-cup coffee machines, grind the beans for you, while others take coffee pre-ground for espressos. Bean-to-cup models can be pricey, but you don’t need to splash out (or remortgage the house) to get barista coffee at home! Just choose small-batch, hand-roasted ground espresso coffee!
It’s the best and easiest way to coffee that will Blow. You. Away.
Poof.
Espresso Machine Roast Type and Grind Size
What’s the best espresso grind?
Grab a bag of coffee ground for espresso and take a peek. Well, go a bit weak at the knees for that lush, insanely tempting aroma and then take a peek.
Any good espresso ground coffee will be super-fine. Espresso machines take the finest grind size – it should be like powdered sugar.
Why? It’s all down to the pressure method. There are two main types of brewing in Planet Coffee: gravity and pressure. Gravity methods include devices like the Chemex and V60 filter. They use the force of gravity to pull water downwards through ground coffee sitting in a filter.
Then, you’ve got pressure methods like espresso, AeroPress and Moka pot. The water still goes downwards (no arguing with Mr Newton), but much faster thanks to the addition of high pressures forcing the water through the grounds.
Not only does this make the process super-quick – it gives you coffee that’s rich, full-bodied and every inch awesome!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fancy a FREE coffee guidebook! Packed to bursting with coffee making/choosing/grinding tips? Click the link and we’ll pop one in the post!
Why is your espresso coffee rocking icing sugar vibes? The answer is pretty simple.
The addition of pressure means espresso brewing is speedy – the whole shebang takes less than a minute. This means fine coffee grinds are in order. Grinding fine like powdered sugar increases the surface area, allowing extraction to occur much faster. Those strapping pressures mean the grounds and water are only in contact with one another for a few seconds, and super-fine, surface area-increasing particles make sure all the lovely flavour gets extracted!
Why do med/dark roasts make the best ground coffee for an espresso machine?
We don’t do preachy at Two Chimps. We’re not gonna tell you that you haveto use a medium/dark roast in your espresso machine. But we are gonna say that they’re a good shout if you’re wondering where to start! Here’s three reasons why:
Naturally sweet
Medium/dark coffees are ideal for espresso because they are less acidic than light roast coffee. Why? It’s because they spend longer in the roaster, giving more time for their natural sugars to caramelise and sweeten. Pressure brewing accentuates acidity, meaning that naturally sweet darker roasts create a beautifully balanced brew!
Spending a bit longer in the roaster makes medium and darker roasts more soluble than lighter roasts. This means they dissolve more easily in water, which is key for the turbo-charged espresso brew!
What is espresso roast?
Heard coffee geeks nattering about ‘espresso roasts’? Do you need to bother about it when choosing the best ground coffee for espresso?
Espresso roasts aren’t a different sort of coffee bean. It simply describes a roasting recipe created with espressos and espresso-based drinks in mind. Roasters leave espresso roasts longer in the roaster and use slightly higher temperatures to reduce acidity, increase body and make the coffee pin-point perfect for espresso!
You can use espresso roasts in other brew devices, of course. But don’t forget – any pre-ground espresso roast will be ground specifically for espresso makers. These super-fine grounds will taste a bit off in your V60!
Jordyn joined Two Chimps in September 2023 to start his career in coffee roasting. Since learning to roast the amazing coffee at Two Chimps, he is a firm believer in the stronger roast style and continues to enjoy testing out new coffees from different areas of the world.
What Jordyn does outside of the treehouse:
In his free time, Jordyn is a dad to a four-year-old girl who keeps him on his toes. When he’s not taking her out on her bike or colouring in Bluey paintings, he’s dreaming about the days when he can go golfing for some peace.
Jordyn says…
“I’m really glad I made the decision to join the Two Chimps troop and start my coffee roasting career. I love experimenting with different coffees and sharing them with our customers. I’m a firm believer of “you can’t buy happiness, but you can buy a coffee and that’s kind of the same thing”.”
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