ESPRESSO: MORE THAN JUST A STRONG COFFEE

What`s the difference between an espresso and a really strong cup of coffee? Good question! In fact, they are quite different. When you make a cup of coffee with a drip brewer, percolator or french press, the hot water is simply extracting the soluble elements from the ground coffee.

With an espresso machine, intense pressure is applied to the water as it pushes through the coffee grounds. For the technically minded, that pressure is 9-10 bars. Under this kind of pressure the hot water not only extracts the soluble elements, but also extracts and emulsifies some of the oils from the ground coffee. These microscopic droplets of oil are then suspended in the liquid coffee. It is the oil that gives espresso its unique aroma and taste.

Also, it is the oils that are responsible for the creation of the crema. If your espresso has no crema, then you are dinking strong coffee, not espresso.

>> If you found this tip useful - please forward this newsletter to friends, family and colleagues. (Especially if you think they need some help in brewing a decent cup of coffee!)

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January 14, 2005, Newsletter Issue #35: Is it an Espresso, or a Strong Coffee?

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