Guide to Espresso vs Coffee

Ok, we love a good espresso OR coffee. Sometimes we need to chug a quick (tiny) cup of espresso and other times we want to enjoy an hour sipping a never-ending cup of coffee -- having both in our lives is fantastic.

While both drinks offer a ~delicious~ taste and bring us back to life every morning when we wake from slumber, and are two of the most popular brewing methods in the world (no surprise there) they do have some key differences that set them apart depending on what you're looking for from your morning brew.

So, what’s the difference between espresso vs coffee? We’re glad you asked. (Because hey – if you didn’t, we’d be writing this blog post for no reason.)

What is Espresso?

First off, what is espresso really? Espresso is a type of coffee brewing method that involves forcing hot water through finely-ground coffee beans under high pressure. It’s brewed using an espresso machine, which uses a piston or pump to create the necessary pressure to extract a concentrated, full-flavored shot of coffee.

Espresso is typically served in small quantities (1-2 ounces) and is often consumed as a standalone bevvie or used as a base for various coffee drinks such as lattes, cappuccinos, and Americanos (we’ll get to that later in the guide).

It also has a strong, bold flavor and is known for its creamy, velvety texture. It might make the hair on the back of your neck stand up in a good way. Espresso is made using a blend of dark and medium roast beans, which gives it its characteristic flavor profile, and the brewing process for espresso is much shorter compared to other methods of brewing coffee. This allows for the extraction of more caffeine and flavors from the beans, and is ideal if you’re short on time.

Now that we’ve gotten all that out of the way, let’s dive into a detailed comparison of espresso vs coffee:

Caffeine in Espresso vs Coffee

There’s a myth that one cup of espresso is way more caffeinated than a cup of coffee. When looking at the caffeine in espresso vs coffee, espresso typically has more caffeine content per volume as compared to regular coffee. This is because espresso is made by forcing hot water through finely-ground coffee beans under high pressure, which extracts more caffeine and flavors from the beans.

On average, a single shot of espresso contains about 30-50mg of caffeine, whereas a cup of coffee contains about 80-100mg of caffeine.

Brew Styles for Espresso vs Coffee

As mentioned earlier, espresso is made using an espresso machine, which forces hot water through finely ground coffee beans under high pressure to extract a concentrated shot of coffee. The brewing process for espresso involves several steps, including grinding the beans, tamping the grounds, and pulling a shot. While it sounds more involved than brewing a regular cup of coffee, the process itself is a nice ritual.

Regular coffee, on the other hand, can be made using various methods such as drip brewing, pour-over (our personal fave!), French press, or percolation.

We'll have a more detailed guide around brewing espresso vs coffee coming soon!

Roasting Methods for Coffee vs Espresso

The devil is in the details, and this is especially true for the roasting process which will affect the flavor and taste of coffee. 

1. Espresso Beans: Espresso is often made using a blend of dark and medium roast beans, which gives it a stronger, bolder flavor compared to regular coffee. Dark roast beans are roasted for a longer period of time at higher temperatures, which results in a deeper, more intense flavor. Medium roast beans are roasted for a shorter period of time at lower temperatures, which results in a milder, smoother flavor. A blend of dark and medium roast beans is often used for espresso to balance the boldness of the dark roast with the smoothness of the medium roast.
2. Coffee Beans: Regular coffee can be made using beans of various roasts, ranging from light to dark, which can impact the flavor and taste of the final brew. Light roast beans are roasted for a shorter period of time at lower temperatures, which results in a lighter, brighter flavor with more acidity. Dark roast beans are roasted for a longer period of time at higher temperatures, which results in a deeper, more intense flavor with less acidity. The choice of roast for regular coffee depends on personal preference and the desired flavor profile.

In a nutshell, the main difference in roasting for espresso and regular coffee is the blend of beans used and the resulting flavor profile. Espresso is often made using a blend of dark and medium roast beans, which gives it a strong, bold flavor, while regular coffee can be made using beans of various roasts, which can impact the flavor and taste of the final brew.

Grinding Process for Espresso vs Coffee

The grinding process is important in the prep of both espresso and coffee. Espresso requires a very fine grind, as the hot water is forced through the grounds under high pressure, and the extraction process is much shorter compared to regular coffee.

On the other hand, regular coffee requires a coarser grind as the extraction process is longer.

Here is a detailed description of how espresso is ground:

1. Grind size: Espresso requires a very fine grind, as the hot water is forced through the grounds under high pressure, and the extraction process is much shorter compared to regular coffee. A fine grind allows for a more consistent extraction and helps to create a balanced and flavorful shot of espresso.
2. Grinding equipment: Espresso is typically ground using a burr grinder, which uses two abrasive surfaces (burrs) to crush the beans into a consistent size. Burr grinders are preferred for espresso as they produce a more consistent grind compared to blade grinders, which chop the beans into uneven pieces.
3. Adjusting the grind size: The grind size for espresso can be adjusted by turning the burrs closer or further apart. Turning the burrs closer together results in a finer grind, while turning them further apart results in a coarser grind. The grind size should be adjusted based on the type of beans being used and the desired flavor profile.
4. Dosing and tamping: Once the beans are ground, they are placed in the portafilter (a small basket-shaped container) and compacted using a tamper. This ensures that the grounds are evenly distributed and creates a consistent extraction. The amount of grounds used for a shot of espresso is known as the dose, and it's typically around 7-9 grams for a single shot. The dose and tamp should be consistent for each shot of espresso to ensure a consistent extraction.

Now, if we’re talking regular coffee:

1. Grind size: The grind size for regular coffee depends on the brewing method being used. For example, drip brewing requires a medium-coarse grind, while French press brewing requires a coarse grind. A coarser grind allows for a longer extraction time, which helps to extract more flavors from the beans. A finer grind, on the other hand, allows for a shorter extraction time, which can result in a more concentrated brew.
2. Grinding equipment: Regular coffee can be ground using a burr grinder or a blade grinder. Burr grinders use two abrasive surfaces (burrs) to crush the beans into a consistent size, while blade grinders use a spinning blade to chop the beans into uneven pieces. Burr grinders are preferred for regular coffee as they produce a more consistent grind, while blade grinders can produce an uneven grind that can affect the flavor and quality of the final brew.
3. Adjusting the grind size: The grind size for regular coffee can be adjusted by turning the burrs closer or further apart (for a burr grinder) or by adjusting the settings on the grinder (for a blade grinder). The grind size should be adjusted based on the brewing method being used and the desired flavor profile.

Taste & Flavor of Espresso vs Coffee

When comparing the taste and flavor of espresso vs coffee, espresso has a stronger, bolder flavor compared to regular coffee.

This is because the espresso extraction process is much shorter, which allows for the extraction of more caffeine and flavors from the beans. Regular coffee has a milder, smoother flavor because the extraction process is longer, which results in a less concentrated brew.

Drinking Espresso vs Coffee

Let’s chat serving sizes and types of drinks that can be made with either espresso or coffee.

Serving Sizes for Espresso vs Coffee

Espresso is usually served in small quantities (typically 1-2 ounces) and is consumed quickly – that’s why it’s served in adorable little cups. It’s often consumed as a standalone beverage or used as a base for various coffee drinks such as lattes, cappuccinos, and Americanos.

Regular coffee is typically served in larger quantities (8-12 ounces) and is consumed over a longer period of time – we love drinking our morning coffee slow, with intention. While coffee can be consumed black and tastes pretty delish that way, there’s a few different modifications if that’s not your jam.

The types of drinks (both methods and ingredients) will vary depending on if you’re wanting an espresso-based drink, or regular coffee.

Espresso Drinks

There are many popular drinks that are made using espresso as a base. One look at the menu of a local coffee shop can confirm that!

A few examples,

• Cappuccino: A cappuccino is a popular espresso-based drink made with equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam. It has a strong espresso flavor with a creamy, frothy texture.
• Latte: A latte is another popular espresso-based drink made with espresso, steamed milk, and a small amount of milk foam. It has a milder flavor compared to a cappuccino, with a creamy, smooth texture.
• Americano: An Americano is made by diluting a shot of espresso with hot water. It has a similar flavor to regular coffee, but with a stronger, more intense taste.
• Macchiato: A macchiato is made with a shot of espresso and a small amount of milk foam. It has a strong espresso flavor with a hint of milkiness.
• Cortado: A cortado is made with equal parts espresso and steamed milk. It has a balanced flavor with a creamy, smooth texture.

These are just a few examples of the many espresso-based drinks that are popular around the world. The ingredients and ratios used to make these drinks can vary, so the flavor and texture may also differ.

Coffee Drinks

There’s a variety of ways to consume regular coffee too, from simply & black, to modified for flavor and texture.

A few examples,

• Black: For the hardcore coffee drinker. Regular coffee can be consumed black, without any added milk or sweeteners. This allows the full flavor of coffee to be enjoyed.
• With your milk of choice: Regular coffee can be consumed with milk (regular, almond, oat, soy…), either on its own or as part of a coffee-based drink.
• With sweeteners: Regular coffee can be consumed with sweeteners such as sugar, honey, agave, flavored collagen like Bulletproof’s product, or syrup. This can be added to the coffee before or after brewing, depending on personal preference.
• Iced *or* Cold Brew: We love a good iced coffee (but only in the dead of summer). Regular coffee can be consumed as an iced coffee, which involves brewing the coffee and then chilling it over ice. There’s also cold brew, which is slightly different than just ice coffee. Cold brew more concentrated and left to brew in cold water while being refrigerated for over 24 hours. Cold brew potency is *chef’s kiss*
• Blended: Regular coffee can be blended with milk and ice to make a coffee smoothie or frappe.

And there you have it! While espresso and coffee at first blush may seem awfully similar, there is quite a bit of nuance in roasting, brewing and consuming each of them.