Difference Between Coffee and Espresso

Understand the key differences between regular coffee and espresso, including brewing methods, strength, and taste.

2 min read

Quick Answer

Espresso is a brewing method, not a different type of coffee bean. It uses finely ground coffee and high pressure to produce a concentrated shot. Regular drip coffee uses coarser grounds and gravity. Espresso is stronger per ounce but a typical serving contains less total caffeine than a cup of drip coffee.

Key Takeaways

Espresso is made by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee at high pressure (9 bars or more).
Any coffee bean can be used for espresso; 'espresso roast' is just a marketing term for darker roasts.
Cold brew coffee is more concentrated than drip but uses a different extraction method than espresso.

Explanation

Espresso is made by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee at high pressure (9 bars or more). This produces a concentrated shot of about 1-2 ounces with a layer of crema on top. The process extracts coffee quickly, typically in 25-30 seconds.

Drip coffee uses gravity to pass hot water through medium-ground coffee over several minutes. This slower extraction produces a larger, less concentrated beverage. A standard cup is 8-12 ounces.

While espresso is more concentrated, a single shot contains roughly 63mg of caffeine compared to about 95mg in an 8-ounce cup of drip coffee. However, espresso-based drinks like lattes use one or more shots, so caffeine content varies.

Things to Know

Any coffee bean can be used for espresso; 'espresso roast' is just a marketing term for darker roasts.
Cold brew coffee is more concentrated than drip but uses a different extraction method than espresso.
Moka pots make strong coffee but technically not true espresso due to lower pressure.