Choosing coffee for espresso doesn't have to be confusing! In the video and article below, we'll show you how to explore coffees with confidence with your Series 1.
Table of Contents
Video Guide
Written Guide
Do I Need "Espresso" Beans?
Contrary to what might be on the bag, no, you don't have to use "espresso beans" or "espresso roasts" specifically for espresso. Most coffees will work really well brewed as espresso (especially with Series 1), and we encourage you to experiment to find what you like!
What's Important to Look For?
Whole Bean VS Pre-Ground
Ideally, you'll want to go with whole bean, freshly roasted coffee every time you have the chance. Pre-ground coffee will work with Series 1, but it will be much more difficult to dial in because you don't have control over how fine or coarse it is. Additionally, pre-ground coffees are often a little too coarse, and you might need to use the double-walled basket to pull a good-tasting shot.
Look for a Roast Date, Not a Sell By Date
Coffee usually tastes the best a number of days to weeks after roasting (it will vary by type, roast level, etc.), once it's had time to rest. A roast date will give you the most accurate gauge of how old the coffee is. If you're curious about how long after roasting you should wait to brew a coffee, check the roaster's website! They often have their own recommendations posted.
Check the Tasting Notes
A bag of coffee will normally feature a set of tasting notes that help describe aspects of the coffee's flavor when brewed. Finding a coffee with notes that sound great to you is a great place to start when choosing a coffee!
An Overview of Roast Levels
Roast level exists on a spectrum. As coffee roasts darker, different textures and flavors are brought forward. Let's go through some of the characteristics of each.
Lighter Roasts
Typically, lighter roasts benefit from a higher coffee-to-water ratio and higher brewing temperatures. High water volume allows for the often delicate and complex flavors in lighter roasts to be delineated in the cup.
The light roast profile in Series 1 helps by giving you stable heat and guidance tuned for lighter coffees.
You also might see less crema with light roasts—this is totally normal.
Medium Roasts
Medium roasts tend to highlight sweetness without too much acidity, making them a great all-around choice. The medium roast profile on Series 1 gives you great starting parameters so you can refine from there.
Darker Roasts
Darker roasts tend to bring deeper chocolatey, toasted-nutty, or semi-sweet flavors that many people tend to look for in classic espresso. Dark roasts also tend to produce more crema. The darker a coffee roasts, the more gases are sealed inside. Once the water hits the coffee, the oils, proteins, and sugars are emulsified and stabilized by these gases, creating the crema on the surface of the shot.
As with the other roast levels, Series 1 features a dark roast shot profile that provides a great place to start from.
Fellow Drops - Coffee Buying Made Easy!
If you want to try new coffees, our Fellow Drops program makes it easy! After signing up, you'll get a weekly text featuring a fun, exciting, or rare coffee that our experts are excited about. All you need to do is reply with the number of bags you want. It's that simple, and there's no commitment.
If you'd like to sign up for Drops, click here!
Have More Questions?
Ask our specially-trained CX assistant by clicking on the chat icon in the bottom right corner of this page. It will answer your question or get you connected with someone who can help!
Related to:
Articles in this section
- Water Hardness, Testing Your Water, & Descaling
- How to Choose Espresso Beans
- How to Prep Your Puck
- How to Pull a Shot
- How to Steam Milk
- How to Dial in Your Shot
- What to Do if the Shot Was Too Fast
- What to Do if the Shot Was Too Slow
- What to Do if the Shot Tastes Sour
- What to Do if the Shot Tastes Bitter