Espresso is a very strong and potent coffee.
It is made by heating water up to a very high temperature
(not boiling), and forcing it, with high pressure, through
extremely fine ground coffee beans. Espresso
was invented in Italy around the beginning of the 20th century.
For the first half of the century though, it was made using
only steam pressure.
The difference between coffee and espresso, and what effectively
defines espresso, is a thicker consistency, a higher coffee
to water ratio, and the serving size. Due to the strong nature
of espresso, it is usually measured, drank
and sold in shots. Oxidation or loss of temperature results
in a chemically complex drink. When brewed properly, espresso
can be divided into three seperate parts; body, heart and
crema. Crema is the brownish foam that floats to the surface
of the espresso.
The brewing process for espresso, more specifically, the
high pressure, results in a concentrated coffee. All the elements
of a full cup of coffee are found in one small shot. Many
people prefer to drink espresso, as they
get their caffeine 'fix' in one quick shot. An espresso shot,
due to its intensity, is used to make other coffee based drinks;
lattes, cappuccinos, macchiatos and mochas. |
