Drip & Dose

What Is Espresso?

Espresso in plain English — what it actually is, what makes it different from regular coffee, and the gear it takes to make it at home.

By Stephen V.Last updated How we choose

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Espresso is a small, concentrated coffee made by forcing hot water through finely-ground coffee under high pressure — about 9 bar — for roughly 25 to 30 seconds.The result is a roughly one-ounce shot topped with a layer of golden-brown foam called crema. It’s the base of most cafe drinks: a latte, cappuccino, flat white, macchiato or americano all start with a shot of espresso.

What makes espresso different

Two things: pressure and grind. Regular coffee lets water pass slowly through medium-to-coarse grounds using gravity. Espresso pushes water fast through a very fine, tightly-packed puck of coffee under pressure. That pressure extracts a lot of flavor (and oils) into a very small volume, which is why espresso tastes so intense and carries that signature crema.

Does espresso have more caffeine?

Per ounce, yes — espresso is much more concentrated. But because a shot is only about an ounce (~40–75 mg of caffeine) and a cup of coffee is 8–12 ounces (~80–100 mg per 8 oz, per the FDA), a full cup of coffee usually delivers more total caffeine than a single shot. More on that in our coffee vs espresso guide.

What it takes to make espresso at home

You need an espresso machine that can generate around 9 bar of pressure, a grinderthat grinds fine and evenly, and fresh coffee. The grinder is the part people underestimate: espresso is very sensitive to grind, so a great machine paired with a poor grinder makes disappointing shots. If you’re buying for someone getting into espresso, budget for both — or start them with good pre-ground beans and add a grinder later.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly is espresso?

Espresso is a small, concentrated coffee made by forcing hot water through finely-ground coffee under high pressure (about 9 bar) for around 25–30 seconds. The result is a roughly 1 oz shot with a layer of golden crema on top. It's the base of lattes, cappuccinos and americanos.

What's the difference between espresso and coffee?

Same beans, different brewing. Espresso uses a very fine grind and high pressure to make a tiny, intense shot; regular coffee uses a coarser grind and gravity (drip, pour-over, French press) to make a larger, milder cup. See our coffee vs espresso guide for the full comparison.

What do you need to make espresso at home?

An espresso machine that can generate around 9 bar of pressure, plus a grinder that can grind fine and evenly, and fresh coffee. The grinder matters more than people expect — a good machine with a poor grind makes poor espresso. See our best beginner espresso machines guide.

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