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You are finally resting on your couch after a tiring day when the world has toiled with you as much as possible.
In this scenario, what could be better than a warm cup of aromatic coffee filled with delectable aromas, right? We couldn’t agree more!
So you get up and head over to the kitchen and aim to pull the best espresso shot you ever have.
You got your portafilter clean, tamped everything evenly, and are ready to grind.
Uh oh!
Much to your dismay, you ended up making a weak and sour shot of espresso.
What did you miss?
When all your equipment was up to the mark, what could have gone wrong?
That’s right, the best espresso beans! A cup of espresso has around 12% dissolved solids that come from the grounds.
Espresso sits at the center of the beverage world.
Without further ado let us point all you coffee connoisseurs straight in the direction of the best espresso beans reviews.
How to Select The Best Coffee Beans for Espresso
As the coffee industry continues to grow on and beyond, the internet has yielded many different types of coffee recipes.
Be it a fruity flavor or keto coffee creamer – you can have it all!
However, as we have established, getting your beans right is key to a rich taste.
Manufacturers have set up various booby traps full of discount codes and labels, but the truth is that we know nothing about what goes behind the walls of these companies that claim that their beans are ethically sourced.
Collecting ample information about the best espresso coffee beans is the first thing you should do when stepping into this lane.
What is an Espresso Bean?
The way you roast your coffee bean determines its taste and flavor.
Espresso is just a quick way of making coffee.
Rule of thumb suggests that lighter roasts muddle better with slower extraction techniques such as filter coffee.
In the case of espresso beans, they have always been roasted super dark resulting in an ash-like charred flavor.
If we were to ask what is the best dessert in the world, we bet many of you will have different opinions.
Similarly, choosing the best espresso bean is also a very difficult task due to the wide variety and varying preferences of people.
While some individuals prefer a nutty tang, others go for fruity hues.
When these beans are roasted, they are left with little to no acids and a fuller body.
The espresso roast contains a strong punch of natural oils which can be validated by their shiny texture.
However, you should not use the beans that have been roasted too dark as too much oil can impair the functioning of automatic grinders.
Here are some key factors that you must consider before buying your espresso beans:
Basics of Coffee Roasting
Light Roast
These beans have a vivid, citrus-edged flavor.
Due to the high acidity, these seldom work in drinks that are based on milk. If you are a fan of espresso, then we would advise you to steer clear of these beans.
Medium Roast
With a medium espresso roast, you get berry flavors that advance into brown sugar and almond shades.
Sophisticated espressos with a sly taste are generally made up of medium roasts. These beans are low on caffeine as compared to lighter roasts.
Dark Roast
This will be your answer if you are looking for the classic espresso with a bittersweet finish.
However, some brightness is always welcomed as else the coffee can end up being too bitter with a burnt taste.
Coffee Blending Explained
Getting the same consistency with single-origin beans is impossible if you are a fan of an overall bold and complex flavor.
Dark espresso with rich crema can only be obtained by an amalgamation of multiple blends.
Thus, checking up the website of the company to know more about their blending process (whether manual or machine aided) would not be a bad idea.
Bleeding would give you the chance to alter the flavor of your coffee as per your needs.
Coffee beans that are sourced from Arabica plants are rich in quality with a more complex flavor.
Robusta is a cheaper alternative. Flavors will vary in accordance with the region in which the coffee bean is grown. Blends take the clear winner when it comes to espresso making as opposed to single-origin coffee.
To know more about different kinds of beans, you can head over to this article.
To sum up, espresso beans are a result of dark roasts and have more prominent bitter/sour notes.
How are Espresso Coffee Beans Different From Regular Coffee Beans?
These beans are refluxed with dark roasting methods and are low on acids as well.
Their shiny, oily texture hints towards the presence of oils in these beans.
The emulsification of these oils results in the formation of rich light-colored layered crema, which significantly improves the quality of your shots.
But as we stated above, excess oil can be derogatory for your coffee gear.
Some notable differences between coffee beans and espresso beans are as follows:
- Usage – In the case of conventional coffee beans, they have the essence of beans due to the light roasting process. This may work out when preparing other recipes but will fail to provide the bitter taste needed in an espresso cup. Experts recommend that espresso should be prepared only using espresso due to its superior uniformness and bold flavor. Coffee beans are generally better when trying to brew using multiple techniques.
- Concentration – Espresso beans are highly concentrated as opposed to coffee beans which gives them a thick and rich taste. If the taste is too strong for your liking, you can always dilute it as per your preference.
- Preparation – Coffee beans are roasted for a short time and retain their coarse texture. Espresso beans, on the other hand, are exposed to high temperatures for a longer duration to facilitate the easy extraction of oils.
- Constituents – The more you roast a bean, the lesser the concentration of caffeine. Thus, espresso beans have a significantly low amount of caffeine as compared to other beans. When you grind them, the resulting moisture would have a fine texture as compared to the rough texture of the coarse beans.
- Size – Roasting for an increased amount of time will result in loss of moisture due to evaporation, thus resulting in less weight. This increases the fiber size in espresso beans and gives them an edge when it comes to size.
Pro tip – You can also use these beans to make coffee powder which comes in quite handy while baking.
| Espresso Beans | Coffee Beans |
|---|---|
| Black in color | Traditional light brown coffee color |
| Gives off a bitter and ash-like fragrance | Regular coffee aroma |
| They have an oily sheen on the surface | No oily sheen on the surface |
| Great for pulling shots with good consistency and rich crema | They are best suited for mild-flavored recipes |
| They work well with high-pressure methods, unlike traditional beans | They are great for a variety of brewing methods |
Espresso Beans and Coffee Growing Regions
Just like a vineyard, every plantation is capable of producing flavors that are unique to its land of origin.
For espresso, the bean roasts you should be looking for should range between medium and dark roast.
For dark espresso roast coffee, Sumatra is an excellent option that you can consider.
Thanks to the moisture-rich hulling practices, all the beans have a mushroom-like earthly flavor which can be experienced even in the darkest roasts.
People who are into the tangy flavor of seared Portobello mushrooms may find these Sumatran beans to their liking.
In the case of medium roasts, South American coffee takes the cake.
They are bright on the acid front and often have a sweet flavor.
Brazil, Colombia, and Guatemala are some good examples of such places.
Enthusiasts who wish to nourish a milk chocolate-like flavor can head towards Indonesian coffee.
Thanks to the mineral-rich soil carved on volcanic remains, these beans have a bold flavor and strong intensity.
This free cheat sheet will improve your coffee brew by providing quick information on brew ratio, grind size, optimal brewing time, and more.
7 Best Espresso Beans 2023
Additional Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Espresso Coffee
Making excellent espresso is a tough task.
It needs the perfect espresso roast, a great brewing formula, and espresso machines with a grinder that is both efficient and clean.
Additionally, one must be familiar with the finest techniques for actually pulling an espresso.
Here are some recommendations for achieving the perfect taste.
Cleaning the Portafilter
Cleanliness and removal of dirt or residue in the Portafilter are absolutely necessary. This step is essential because it prevents the coffee from tasting harsh and over-extracted.
Correct Dosage of Coffee
Measuring accurate coffee dosage is not a difficult task.
Simply push a button on your portafilter, and the grinder will automatically adjust the coffee dose for you.
You may double-check your dosage accuracy by using a scale before tamping the coffee.
This step ensures that the dosage is exact and your coffee is amped up to perfection.
Even and Consistent Tamping
Tamping is performed in order to ensure that the coffee puck is completely flat and to remove any air pockets that may exist in the coffee.
The proper method to tamp is to crush the puck precisely, which will prevent uneven extraction from occurring.
FAQs
What beans make the best espresso?
Medium-dark roasts are often regarded as the finest for use in most espresso machines. These types of beans not only have the ideal consistency, but it is also the greatest choice when it comes to pairing it with milk. Dark roast beans are known for their robust flavor, strong aromas and are the reason behind the most delicious espressos made. Some of the best medium-dark roasts include:
1. Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Hair Bender Whole Bean Coffee
2. Lifeboost Coffee Espresso
3. Peet’s Arabian Mocha Sanani
4. Stumptown Hair Bender
What beans does Starbucks use for espresso?
Espresso drinks at Starbucks are made with the highest-quality Arabica beans.
These beans work the best to provide caramelly sweetness, delicate acidity, and depth to the coffee.
In order for each coffee bean to reach its particular peak of aroma, acidity, body, and flavor, a specific balance of temperature and time must be achieved.
A cup of Starbucks coffee is more than just a beverage.
After just one sip, it will become a part of your daily coffee ritual.
It might mark the beginning of a new day or serve as a reward at the end of a long one.
It’s the perfect way to spend a relaxing weekend morning or a cause to get together with friends. Whatever you’re doing, take time to enjoy it.
Do you need special coffee beans for espresso?
Any type of coffee can be used to make espresso, and the process is simple as well.
However, in order to achieve the desired consistency, it is usually recommended to use a medium-dark roast instead of light.
When it comes to espresso, it’s important to understand that it’s roasted, ground, and brewed differently than other types of coffee.
It is renowned for having stronger and more assertive flavors that can only be obtained by dark-roasted coffee beans.
Can you use any beans for espresso?
One can use any type of coffee bean to make espresso, but not all of them will produce the dark flavor that you are looking for. It is only through the consumption of bold and rich flavors that one can truly appreciate them.
It’s essential to choose only fresh beans as with time, they tend to release CO2, which results in less Crema production.
How fresh do beans need to be?
Freshly roasted beans impart a great flavor to Espresso when they are between 7-21 days old.
The reason behind this is the increased production of crema in fresh beans.
CO2 is crucial for the production of this cream-like top layer.
As coffee ages, the CO2 levels also decrease, prohibiting the formation of CO2 bubbles.
Verdict
In our testing and evaluation, Lifeboost and Pete’s coffee products have overshadowed the rest of the beans due to their superior quality.
With your individual needs, the kind of beans that you should buy will also differ.
While some prefer the fruity taste, others like going for the classic bitter coffee.
That being said, proper espresso making and training are also key to making the perfect espresso.
Do not get disappointed if you can’t get it right the first time you try a new method.
Taking a barista training course can also familiarize you with the ins and outs of the coffee industry.
So what are you waiting for?
Get yourself some fresh espresso beans and drool over perfectly made espresso shots today!
Brooke Davis
Hi everyone, my name is Brooke and I’m a Barista and freelance writer. I love brewing coffee and my favorite coffee drink is without doubt an Americano (espresso with added hot water). When I’m not busy making or writing about coffee you’ll find me hanging out at the beach with friends in California where I am currently residing. Follow me on: LinkedinThis free cheat sheet will improve your coffee brew by providing quick information on brew ratio, grind size, optimal brewing time, and more.
