Coffee Makes Me Velklimpt

Get your shpilkes out of your genecktecessoink and settle down with a couple of Joe.

I was asked by a friend the other day what the difference between espresso and coffee is and if they come from the same beans.

Although I knew the answer I couldn't get into the specifics, which made me a little meshbuuka. So I decided the difference between espresso and coffee would be an excellent topic for today's blog.

So here's the deal; coffee beans are used to make both coffee and espresso. The difference between the two comes down to the grind and the processes they undergo while brewing. Brewing espresso is a much faster process than brewing coffee.

First, lets talk about the coffee bean itself. Coffee beans are actually pits of a fruit, not really a bean at all. They come from small flowering trees called coffeas and are typically found in tropical environments. The fruit on this tree is often referred to as a cherry, and within the cherry is a set of two small pits, or coffee beans. Some of these cherries are a bit abnormal and only contain one bean, a peaberry. Peaberries are rounder than traditional coffee beans because they haven't had to share the fruit's center with another bean.

Some coffee is made from only peaberries, as they require a different roasting process than traditional beans. While the verdict is still out on whether or not the peaberry actually itself yields higher quality coffee, its generally believed to brew a nicer coffee.

On to espresso. Espresso is made with very finely ground coffee beans. These ground beans are then tightly packed into a spoon used to make the espresso; the tighter they are packed, the stronger the espresso. Next, very hot water is highly pressurized through the beans creating an somewhat syrupy liquid with a light foam layer balancing on top, called the crema- this is your finished espresso.

Some brave souls are ready to take the espresso straight up once its finished brewing. Others like me, prefer a little milk and flavoring, called a latte, to join the espresso in a delightful caffeinated beverage.

 Of course every barista and coffee shop has their own preference for just how hot the water should be and and how much water to use. That's why two coffee shops could brew the same espresso but have two completely different tastes.

Other drinks besides lattes that feature espresso includes: red eyes, macchiatos, cappuccinos and americanos.

If you couldn't already guessed by the etymology, espresso got its start and gained popularity in Italy.

NOTE: if you ever happen to be traveling in Italy (lucky you) please note that espresso is often referred to as caffe (translated as coffee)- because espresso is the standard coffee-based drink.

Moving on to coffee. Coffee is made from ground coffee beans (duh). Ground beans that are to be crafted into coffee are a little more course than the grind for espresso. The two most common ways to brew coffee is with an automatic coffeemaker or with a French press.

Automatic coffeemakers push hot water through a coffee filter filled with ground beans, resulting in a hot steamy liquid- coffee. The paper coffee filter absorbs the bean's oils and prevents them from mixing in with the actual coffee beverage.

The French press method is a favorite of mine. Ground coffee beans and very hot water are mixed together in a small glass container, fitted with a large stamp-like fixture with a handle coming out of the lid of the lid of the coffee maker. After a few minutes go by, the stamp is plunged into the coffee-water mixture and pushes all the grounds to the bottom, separating the two elements. This process generally produces a stronger and much more flavorful coffee, due in part to the presence of the bean's oils that are left behind in the filters of  traditional coffeemakers.

Most people think that espresso is by nature stronger than coffee. But they have the wrong thoughts. Coffee is stronger and more caffeinated than espresso. So, I guess it's actually kind of a bonus that coffee makers are cheap enough and small enough to be in the cramped confines of every dorm room in America.

Okay, I need to take a spritz. Talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you a topic: the ecological pressures modern citizens of the world are experiencing as a result of the decline in population of the African honeybee.

Discuss.