Sunday, November 8, 2009

Expresso Coffee Is More Than Just A Cup Of Coffee

By Lucia Latte

The term Expresso coffee derives from the Italian word espresso and translates to brewed for you. This term has been used to identify a particular type of coffee since the beginning of the 20th century. While this method is actually older than that term. Not everyone understands what the term Expresso coffee actually means.

A popular misconception is that Expresso coffee is different than pother coffee because of the beans that are used. This simply is not true. There are specialty beans that are popular with Expresso coffee but they alone do not make a cup of coffee Expresso coffee.

So if it is not the particular bean it must be the blend. This is only partly true. There are specific blends that are designed for espresso but this blend does not make it expresso. Coffee. While it may be true that a better cup of expresso coffee can be made from a specialty blend this does not mean that you cannot make a cup of espresso out of any bean.

The roast is also disassociated as being the difference with Expresso coffee. In fact there is no one single roast that is correct for Expresso coffee. Roast is a personal choice and there are different roasts that tend to be popular in different parts of the world. The traditional roast in Italy is a medium roast while California's tend to prefer a bold roast.

Most coffees are about what is in the coffee expresso coffee is about how the coffee was made It is the brewing is what separates expresso coffee from other coffees. Expresso coffee is actually an individually brewed cup of coffee as the name implies in Italian. Unlike most coffee drinks expresso coffee is a shot of coffee that has been brewed from a tablespoon of finely ground coffee beans. A proper definition of expresso coffee would be a shot of coffee produced under a high amount of pressure with very finely ground coffee beans.

Simply placing the grounds into the machine and pressing the button does not make a cup of Expresso coffee a good Expresso. A good cup of Expresso is more of an art like producing a fine wine. In order to do this properly it the grounds must be ground fresh and then placed in a metal device that resembles a filter and then packing those grounds down with a flat metal surface. Packing the grounds just right is important. The right packing will provide a nice silky like surface to the top of the Expresso coffee. This surface is known as the crema. Good crema is vital to an outstanding cup of Expresso coffee.

The way Expresso coffee is drank is as specialized as the way it is brewed. The proper method of drinking Expresso coffee is to lift the cup to just below the nose and then inhale the aroma. Savor this aroma and then drink the Expresso coffee in several large gulps almost like you would a good lager. Once the cup has been emptied it should be placed diligently onto the saucer.

Many people think it is a sin to add sugar to a cup of Expresso coffee but actually there is nothing that says it cannot be drank sweetened. In fact it is common for this drink to be slightly sweetened in Italy. What matters is that you savor this coffee and make it more than just a drink. Drinking Expresso coffee should truly be a unique experience.

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