One question we’ve been hearing more often lately is:
“Can I use your coffee for espresso?”
The short answer is yes.
You do not need a special type of coffee bean labeled “espresso” in order to make espresso. What matters most is how the coffee is ground and brewed.
Espresso Is a Brewing Method
A lot of people assume espresso is a particular roast of coffee. It isn’t.
Espresso is a brewing method that uses pressure to force hot water through finely ground coffee. Because the water passes through the coffee fairly quickly, the grind needs to be much finer than what you would normally use for a standard drip coffee maker.
That means a whole bean coffee you already enjoy can often be used in an espresso machine.
You simply grind it appropriately for your machine.
So Why Do Some Bags Say “Espresso Roast”?
This is where things get confusing.
Coffee labeled “espresso roast” usually means the roaster developed that coffee with the flavor profile they thought would work especially well when brewed as espresso.
It does not mean other coffee beans cannot be used.
Dark roasts have traditionally been popular for espresso because they tend to produce the bold, rich, bittersweet flavors many people associate with a classic shot of espresso.
But medium and even light roast coffees can also be used.
The roast changes the flavor of your espresso more than whether or not it can technically be brewed as espresso.
What Does Roast Level Change?
Think of the roast level as choosing the personality of your espresso.
A darker roast will generally lean toward deeper, bolder and more roasted flavors.
A medium roast may provide a balance of richness and some of the original characteristics of the coffee.
A lighter roast may produce brighter or more distinctive flavors that are quite different from the classic dark espresso many people expect.
None of those choices is automatically right or wrong.
It comes down to what you enjoy drinking.
Whole Bean Is Actually a Good Choice for Espresso
If you own an espresso machine, buying whole bean coffee can actually be an advantage.
Espresso machines can be particular about grind size. A grind that works beautifully in one machine may need a little adjustment in another.
Grinding your coffee at home allows you to make those small adjustments until the shot flows properly and tastes the way you like it.
If your espresso runs through extremely quickly, you may need to grind finer.
If it barely flows at all, you may need to grind a little coarser.
That process is commonly called “dialing in” your espresso.
Can Rambler Scrambler Coffee Be Used for Espresso?
Absolutely.
Our whole bean coffees can be ground for use in an espresso machine.
The real question isn’t:
“Can I use this coffee for espresso?”
It is:
“What kind of espresso do I want to drink?”
Someone looking for a dark, bold espresso will probably gravitate toward one of our darker coffees.
Someone who prefers a smoother or more balanced espresso may enjoy one of our medium roasts instead.
And someone who enjoys experimenting may discover that a lighter roast creates an entirely different espresso experience.
Coffee does not have to come with the word ESPRESSO printed across the bag to work in an espresso machine.
Start with a coffee whose flavor sounds good to you, buy it whole bean, grind it for your machine, and experiment.
You may find your new favorite way to drink it.
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