Demystifying Espresso Beans
Let's debunk a common myth: there's no such thing as a distinct "espresso coffee bean." The term "espresso" refers to the brewing method, not the bean variety. That said, plenty of roasters market specific roasts as "espresso roast," using beans with the qualities needed to produce good crema. Many people associate dark roasts with espresso, but the real factor that matters is a bean's ability to produce crema. Beyond that, it comes down to finding a blend that suits your palate, whether that's a light, medium, or dark roast.
Where I Buy My Beans Online
Buying espresso beans online has been a great way to access specialty roasters at reasonable prices and with real convenience. Over time I've bought from bigger names like Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and Peet's Coffee, as well as smaller, artisanal roasters like Espresso Vivace Roasteria. All of them have consistently delivered quality beans — though despite being the smallest operation of the bunch, Vivace stands out for both service and quality.
One standout has been Espresso Vivace Roasteria in Seattle. On a visit to the city, I was introduced to their Vita espresso roast, which struck the perfect balance of flavor and crema. I later ordered 3 lbs of beans, including their "Dolce" espresso roast. Both are excellent, but Vita is the one I keep coming back to.
Illy gets a lot of praise, but I find it overpriced for what you get. In my experience, Espresso Vivace is the stronger choice online — excellent beans, great service, and reasonable pricing.
I'd hoped for years to find good Ethiopian Yirgacheffe beans on Amazon, and eventually landed on Coffee Masters Gourmet Coffee, Ethiopian Yirgacheffe. Check the Coffee Masters store at Amazon for all their offerings.
To be clear: my relationship with Espresso Vivace is simply as a happy customer — I'm not affiliated with them. I am part of the Amazon Associates program, but I only recommend products I've actually used myself.
For more on this topic, you might also enjoy Great Value Coffee Beans Suitable for Espresso.
Hi. I like your Blog. I have an automatic espresso machine and the retailer warned me not to use oily beans and go with a medium roast. Any recommendations?
ReplyDeleteHi Dee. Here is a recommendation for some great beans for making espresso with, available through Amazon at a very good price.
ReplyDeletePlease see my post Great Value Espresso Beans .
Do you have any recommendations for a dark roast bean that would work well for expresso. I know you said they aren't the best but I really enjoy darker roasts, so I was wondering if there was any that make a good expresso?
ReplyDeleteHi Tyer,
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I can't recommend any dark roasts for espresso. If the oils from the beans are evident on the outside of the bean - meaning the beans are glossy and oily - in my experience you just can make good crema.
Also, you may find that if you use dark roast beans, when you remove the portafilter from the machine, the puck will remain stuck to the microscreen. Then it's a big mess getting it out of there. If you are making a second cup for someone else, it's not a good scene.
If you really want to give it a shot, why not start with a dark roast that you can get at a local store and see how it goes.
--John
Hello John,
ReplyDeleteWhich beans or roast would work best in an aeropress machine like this
http://www.moreflavour.co.za/coffee-making-products/aeropress
and should the beans be ground very fine or left more to the coarse side?
Thanks for the great blog and quality info
Hi Reine.
ReplyDeleteI've never used an Aeropress so can't really say one way or the other. I read their product description and noted that they said it didn't matter how you ground your beans, that it worked equally well with any grind. I would just start out in the middle and do a little bit of experimenting up and down the scale and see if you can find the "sweet spot" that meets your personal taste. Good luck and I'd love to hear back from you once you have given it a try.