Coffee for Espresso machine

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112 items

About Coffee for Espresso Machines 

Sworn fans of quality coffee tend to view the brewing process as a unique ritual that requires both knowledge and skill. With the help of the latter, coupled with a proper semi-automatic (espresso) coffee machine, you’ll be able to produce some of the finest espressos you’ve ever tasted. As far as the former is concerned, a good deal of in-depth knowledge is definitely needed when choosing the right coffee for espresso maker for the flavour experience you’re after. As you journey towards the perfect cuppa, you’ll have to know what type of coffee beans, or coffee in general, are suited best for your espresso machine. How can you tell the difference between quality coffee and one that’s subpar? Luckily, we’ve got several tips that will help you set out on your flavour adventure with confidence. Read on to find out exactly what you should know before selecting the right coffee for espresso machine (and brewing it too, of course!).

Coffee for Espresso Machines: What Kind Should You Go For?

Any owner of an espresso machine will tell you that this kind of appliance requires a certain type of coffee. It’s all about the word “espresso” here. Semi-automatic coffee machines are designed for the espresso brewing method, so choosing coffee that’s suited for this type of brewing is definitely your best bet. Authentic Italian-style espresso is at the very heart of every brewing appliance of this kind: once you’ve figured out how to produce a proper espresso, you’ll have a whole lot of recipes and flavour experiments at your disposal. Whether it’s creative freedom or a delicious shot of pure espresso you’re after, we suggest choosing freshly ground beans (the most fragrant results are always obtained using beans for espresso machine ground right before preparation!)  or dark-roasted pre-ground coffee designed for the espresso brewing method. In any case, you’ll need ground coffee to fill the portafilter with. You can use a variety of coffees—be it coffee beans, specialty coffee, decaf coffee, or coffee sold by your local roasters. As long as it’s suited for the espresso brewing method, you surely won’t be disappointed! 

What to Pay Attention to When Choosing the Best Coffee Beans for Your Espresso Machine?

Brewing a great cuppa with the help of an espresso machine takes a little bit more effort than usual: you must familiarise yourself with basic brewing rules, discover the right grind size, learn how to tamp your ground coffee properly… While this process is exactly what true coffee connoisseurs are after, the journey towards the perfect shot of espresso necessarily begins from choosing the right coffee beans. For the finest results, you should always aim for the freshest coffee possible, which is why we recommend grinding your beans for espresso machine freshly right before preparation. A consistent grind of the exact right size is just as important: if you grind the beans too finely, it’ll obstruct the water flow, while grinding them too coarsely will most likely result in your cuppa being too watery. If you’re set on buying an espresso machine, getting a coffee grinder alongside it is an excellent idea. This will put the right grind in your hands. 

Which coffee beans should you choose, you wonder? To prevent you from getting lost in the wide variety of coffees on offer, here are a few criteria to consider:

Look for the word “ESPRESSO”. Unsurprisingly, you should look for the word “espresso” when choosing the right coffee beans for espresso machines. You’ll find it on the packaging, in the name of the right coffee, or in its e-shop description. This indicates that the beans are specifically tailored for espresso machines, offering the optimal flavor profile for espresso beans for espresso machines.

Roast level. It’s important to consider the roast level of your coffee beans too. When it comes to espresso machines, your best bet are best coffee beans for espresso machine, typically beans of a medium to dark roast.. Light-roasted coffees are suited better for filter coffee machines: they’re generally slower in unveiling their flavours, which means that a longer brewing duration is necessary—and brewing a shot of espresso is always quick. If you try and use beans of a lighter roast in your espresso machine, you might very well end up producing a drink that’s flavourless and way too acidic. 

To make the whole selection process easier, why not take a look at Coffee Friend’s range of products? The Caprisette line of coffees is suited for a variety of tastes (including sworn fans of milk-based drinks), while the specialty coffees from Black Crow White Pigeon and specialty coffee blends from Parallel are full of truly unique aromas, making them perfect for those who love to experiment and discover new flavours. Here you can find the best beans for espresso machines, ensuring that every espresso you brew will be exceptional.

Why Espresso?

In the realm of coffee, the word “espresso” bears many meanings, including the drink itself and the technique that goes into making it. Both coffee designed for the espresso method and the brewing ritual itself are indispensable parts of modern coffee culture. The two are pretty much inseparable: the close connection between them results in the finest flavours, greatest pleasures and most valuable traditions. A quality espresso machine may help you uncover notes that would be impossible to obtain using any other brewing method out there. Using specially selected coffee for espresso machine can enhance this experience, ensuring that each brew captures the essence of a perfect espresso.

While semi-automatic appliances are designed for brewing espresso, you should keep in mind that this recipe serves as a foundation for a whole lot of other drinks, be they milk-based, flavoured with your favourite syrup, etc. Choosing the right beans and mastering the espresso brewing technique is what the journey of every excellent home barista starts from: once you have that down, you’ll be able to serve your family members and friends with a number of delicious coffee creations. 

Specialty Coffee for Espresso Machines: How to Select the Right One?

While dark-roasted coffee blends are indeed an excellent choice for all owners of an espresso machine, specialty coffees deserve a separate mention too. Specialty varieties boast the highest of qualities and can meet the needs of the pickiest connoisseurs. To find the right specialty coffee for your espresso machine, consider the following criteria:

Roast level. When exploring the numerous specialty coffees on the market, owners of an espresso machine are advised to pay special attention to the roast level and the recommended brewing methods. As discussed above, choosing coffee of a lighter roast may result in a cuppa that’s too acidic and not as rich, so your best bet is medium to dark roasts.  The best espresso for espresso machines often comes from these darker roasts, as they enhance the rich and robust flavors essential for a great espresso.

Personal taste. Unlike coffee blends, which tend to be much more balanced, specialty coffees are often marked by vivid, exotic notes. If you’re a fan of espresso for espresso machine or regular black coffee, both options will suit you well, but those who prefer milk-based drinks are likely to find blends a better choice. 

If you’re interested in giving specialty coffee a try, we suggest you browse through the varieties in Coffee Friend’s own Black Crow White Pigeon range of specialty coffees. Most of them are roasted in a way that makes these coffees suited for espresso machines. The Parallel specialty coffee blends deserve a look too. Designed to introduce coffee enthusiasts to the flavours typical to the key coffee-growing regions, there are three varieties on offer: “Parallel 12” represents the African continent, “Parallel 17” is all about the flavours of Asia, while “Parallel 36” boasts the taste of the Americas. Here, you can explore coffee beans for espresso that bring the distinct characteristics of their origin into every shot.

What Grind Size Should You Choose for Your Espresso?

The success of your espresso heavily depends on the grind size of your coffee. For espresso machines, a particularly fine grind, similar to sugar or salt, is essential. This fine ground coffee for espresso machine allows the water to seep evenly through the compact coffee layer, facilitating the extraction of rich flavors and intense aromas. However, be mindful not to grind the coffee too finely, as this can slow the water flow excessively and result in a bitter brew. Conversely, a grind that is too coarse will cause the water to pass through too quickly, likely producing a weak, under-extracted espresso. Achieving the perfect balance is crucial for crafting the ideal espresso.

For those who prefer convenience, our selection of pre ground coffee for espresso machine offers an excellent alternative to daily grinding are guaranteed to appreciate our selection of ground coffees. Thanks to innovative packaging techniques, pre-ground coffee is now able to retain its flavours and aromas for much longer. The coffee grounds for espresso machine are sealed in hermetically closed bags to shield them from air and moisture, allowing you to enjoy the freshness and full flavor of coffee without the hassle of grinding it yourself. Whether you opt for fine ground coffee for espresso machine or the best ground coffee for espresso machine, you can achieve superb espresso quality every time.

ESE Coffee Pods for Espresso Machines

We’ve already established the superiority of freshly ground beans—however, it does make the brewing process lengthier. The busy bees amongst you will be glad to find out there’s a thing called coffee pods out there, designed to make brewing a shot of espresso at home much easier and quicker. Also known as ESE (Easy Serve Espresso) pods, they’re an ingenious invention enabling coffee lovers to get the most out of their espresso machine, all while saving some precious time as well. Coffee pods are, in fact, special paper bags with pre-tamped good coffee for espresso inside them. Our range of products reflects our efforts to please all coffee lovers, so there’s a number of coffee pods in there too: from delicate ones to those marked by richer flavours. Keep in mind though that ESE pods are only compatible with dedicated pod coffee machines: to make sure you get it right, look through the list of specifications and choose an appliance that lets you use coffee of this type.  

Decaf Coffee for Espresso Machines: What Should You Look For?

Decaf coffee has been growing in popularity lately, with more and more varieties available on the market. If you’ve got an impression that decaf coffee isn’t suited for the espresso brewing method, let us assure you that it definitely is. When it comes to selecting the right decaf variety for your espresso machine, it’s all very simple: just stick to the criteria you’d use when looking for the best coffee beans. To make sure that the flavours are all there, choose decaf coffee beans of a medium to dark roast. Don’t forget that the tastiest coffee is always the one that’s brewed using freshly ground beans, by the way! 

If you’re looking for a particularly fragrant, delicate variety, we suggest you try the Lullaby Decaf blend from Coffee Friend’s own range of Caprisette coffees: it combines arabica and robusta coffee beans of premium quality, obtained from Brazil, Guatemala and India. Owners of a sweet tooth might enjoy the specialty Black Crow White Pigeon Colombia Decaf, which boasts vivid notes of chocolate and caramel.

Maximum Variety: Coffee Sets for Espresso Machines

Those who hate getting stuck on a single flavour should give coffee sets a try. There’s a number of those in Coffee Friend’s range of products, allowing you to enjoy a different coffee each day if you feel like it! If you’ve already found your favourite variety and don’t want to experiment any further, you’re in luck too: we have numerous sets made up of the same kind of coffee. Just sit back and relax—you’ll never run out of coffee again! Sets of espresso coffees are the perfect option for those owners of an espresso machine who are still in the process of discovering their own personal taste. Make sure to apply the same criteria you’d use when selecting the right coffee beans, and you won’t be disappointed! 

Arabica Coffee Beans for Espresso Machine

A lot of people ask us which coffee bean variety is suited better for an espresso machine: is it arabica or robusta? Well, arabica beans tend to be marked by subtler flavours and a lower caffeine content. This type of coffee is often sweeter, fruitier and a bit more acidic. Coffee Friend’s range of products includes numerous 100% arabica varieties, which are suited well for both delicate espressos and delicious milk-based drinks. Make sure to consider the tasting notes of your arabica coffee beans though: feel free to go for ones that boast a higher or lower level of acidity, depending on your personal taste. 

Robusta Coffee Beans for Espresso Machines

100% robusta is a rare occurrence on the coffee market: this is because it boasts a particularly intense flavour and an overall caffeine content that’s twice as high as that of arabica. More often than not, you’ll find robusta mixed with arabica: this pairing results in particularly well-balanced flavours. If you go for a blend of arabica and robusta, your drink will have more caffeine in it. It’ll likely be marked by some light bitterness too. By the way, arabica and robusta blends are suited great for milk-based coffees, with the beverage being thicker and its crema much richer. 

Any Questions?

Have we left any of your questions unanswered? Perhaps you’re struggling to decide between several different types of coffee for espresso machines? Our consultants are ready to help you discover the best option for you!