Coffee is as popular as ever in the United States. In fact, the industry expected to grow by 3.1% between 2023 and 2028. And the number of unique coffee drinks available on menus throughout the country seems to be growing at an exponential rate. Coffee enthusiasts are regularly discovering fresh and experimental ways of enjoying their favorite hot beverage.
But in many of the most popular coffee drinks lies one core ingredient: espresso. But what is an espresso drink? Is it different from regular coffee? How is it derived?
Let’s find out.
Coffee vs. Espresso
To make any cup of coffee, you’ll need two core ingredients: water and finely ground coffee beans. But the ratio of beans to water is what separates “coffee” from “espresso.” Coffee typically features a grounds-to-water ratio of 1:18.
Conversely, espresso is made using a lower ratio of grounds-to-water. To make espresso, one can grind the same beans they might for normal coffee. However, this method uses a grounds-to-water ratio of 1:2.
As you can imagine, regular coffee is fairly liquidy, whereas espresso is typically much thicker.
What is an Espresso Coffee?
Unlike a cup of coffee, which is typically served in 12 oz+ servings, espresso is served in much smaller doses. You can thank the more intense, concentrated nature of espresso for that.
You can expect espresso to be served straight in a small espresso cup. It can also be used as a shot in popular coffee drinks. If you are wondering what is an iced shaken espresso, now you know one of its core ingredients.
What is an Espresso Shot?
The answer to what is an espresso shot lies in how it is used. When extracted, an espresso shot is a concentrated serving of espresso that can be added to nearly any coffee beverage.
Use it front and center in a mocha, latte, or macchiato. Or let it blend in with your favorite frozen coffee drink. Really, only your imagination can stop you.
What is an Espresso Macchiato?
If you are wondering what is an espresso macchiato, simply consider it one of many ways to use espresso.
Like many drinks that use espresso, an espresso macchiato combines espresso with a small amount of frothed milk and foam. When you wonder what is an espresso macchiato, think of it like a more concentrated cappuccino.
Find Your Next Espresso Beverage at Ellianos
At Ellianos Coffee, we focus on perfect brewed espresso. This ensures our customers can enjoy espresso that meets Italian quality at America’s pace. Find an Ellianos Near You.
