How to choose coffee beans for espresso
Tips for purchasing the best beans for espresso
If you want to know what kind of coffee is best for espresso you are in the right place. In this article we explain what type of coffee beans are best for espresso and what differences in flavours there are between light and dark roast in espresso.
What type of roast is best for espresso?
Most people prefer medium-dark or dark roast for espresso, such as French roast. Dark roast is suitable for high pressure and quick extraction, which is the case of espresso machine brewing.
The difference between light roast and dark roast
The type of roast has a huge influence on what flavours and aromas dominate in coffee. Here we explain the difference between dark and light roast, what flavours you can expect from each of them, so you can choose the roast you will enjoy according to your preferences.
Dark roast coffee beans
Dark roast in espresso is less acidic and gives more crema.
As we mentioned before, dark roast coffee is best for espresso. Dark roasted beans have an oily sheen on the surface, which is a sign that they are rich in natural oils and helps to bring out the natural delicious flavors in coffee. Also, the darker the roast, the more CO2 in the beans, which helps to produce crema and gives a lovely dark foam.
Light roast coffee beans
Light roast in espresso will have floral and fruity notes as well as more acidity.
What else is light roast good for? Light roast is suitable for slower extraction, for example filter coffee. Beans roasted light are also good for milky coffee and non-pressure brewing such as French press, cold brew or any drip coffee. Light roast coffee beans have less oils (which you can recognise by very little or the lack of oily sheen on the surface of the bean).
Is espresso roast stronger?
No, espresso roast isn’t stronger. The major difference in typical espresso roast is the darkness of the beans, it is a darker roast.
Summary
The answer to the question ‘Is light roast or dark roast better for espresso?’ is: dark roast is better for espresso. But like everything about taste, it’s about your personal preferences and you can really use any type of roast depending on what you like.
What is your favourite coffee for espresso? Do you choose a dark roast for your espresso? Share your comments below!
You may also like: