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Espresso Beans vs. Coffee Beans: Here’s Why They Taste Different

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Espresso Beans vs. Coffee Beans: Here’s Why They Taste Different

Coffee is a morning ritual. We wake up, drink coffee, and prepare to conquer the day. Coffee isn't just something we consume every morning, it's something that's part of our lives.

The best thing about coffee is there are so many unique ways to make it. Depending on how you like it, you can choose various ways to make coffee, from cold brew to lattes. In particular, expresso vs. coffee beans has a lot of unique differences in taste and health benefits that you might not be familiar with.

In this guide, we look at the unique taste differences between these kinds of beans. We also address the history of these beans and how they affect you differently.

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The Historical Difference Between Espresso Beans vs. Coffee Beans

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Mugs of coffee and milk with cinnamon sticks and coffee beans

©iStock.com/Candice Bell

One of the oldest stories about how coffee was discovered is about a man and his goats. The man gave his goats some berries from a tree. However, when he gave these berries to the goats, he noticed the goats became so energized afterward from the berries. He soon realized that these berries could be used to make a drink known as coffee.

Espresso has a slightly different history to it. Dating back to the twentieth century in Italy, businessman Luigi Bezzera was experimenting with different ways to make his coffee faster. He eventually created a machine that could brew coffee more quickly, which is how espresso originated.

Besides their history, one of the critical differences between coffee and espresso is the amount of coffee you get from either one. For example, espresso is much more concentrated. You're getting more concentrated coffee, more zip than you would in a regular cup of coffee. That is because espresso is much more concentrated than coffee, which means it's more concentrated and caffeinated.

We'll continue to explore how coffee beans and espresso beans are unique and how they affect you differently.

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How Espresso Beans vs. Coffee Beans Are Prepared Differently

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Use coffee grounds as a natural, nitrogen-rich fertilizer for plants.

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Espresso beans are prepared much differently than typical coffee beans. One of the ways they are ready is with high temperatures to extract the oil from the beans. This helps make the coffee much bolder because the coffee beans are more concentrated.

While espresso and coffee beans have the exact origin, they are wildly different in how they are prepared and taste. Espresso beans are just regular coffee beans that are roasted much longer. They are considered dark roasted beans. Typically, the espresso beans are compressed for maximum flavor with an espresso machine. To achieve full flavor in an espresso machine, you need to ensure that you have darker coffee beans.

Compared to espresso, coffee beans usually refer to a broader view of how coffee is made. For example, you can have light, medium, or dark roasts coffee to make a variety of coffee drinks such as:

  • Cold brew coffee
  • Hot lattes
  • Drip coffee
  • French Press coffee
  • Percolate: stovetop coffee
  • Aeropress coffee

These are unique ways to make coffee with regular coffee beans. With espresso, you typically only need a specialized espresso machine to extract and create a cup of concentrated coffee.

The Nutritional Difference Between These Beans

coffee grounds and coffee beans
How you grind your coffee and brew it changes the taste of it.

©iStock.com/pedphoto36pm

The nutritional difference between espresso beans and coffee beans may surprise you. There's only a slight difference around heart health. But the truth is that the only true difference between these beans is how you brew them.

Drinking coffee altogether, regardless of if it's espresso or coffee, has tremendous health benefits. For example, drinking coffee or espresso strengthens your long-term memory. It also improves your concentration and boosts physical activity. Additional benefits include lowering your risk of cardiovascular disease, aiding in weight loss, and improving digestion.

While light to medium-roasted beans are slightly healthier than darker-roasted beans, it's only a tiny difference. Choosing either kind of beans for making coffee is advantageous to your health. However, it's also recommended that you only drink two to three cups of coffee a day. More than that can affect your jitters, make you restless, and create irregular heartbeats.

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If you stay within the recommended amount, drinking coffee, if it's espresso or regular beans, can have tremendous health benefits that can improve your overall day-to-day living.

What Kind of Coffee Should You Choose?

Infographic comparing espresso and coffee beans.
Espresso beans are coffee beans that have been roasted for a long time.
  • Espresso beans make use of higher temperatures to achieve their bolder taste.
  • Generally, you just need an espresso machine to prepare espresso. With coffee, there are lots of ways to prepare it depending on your preferences.
  • Espresso beans are roasted for much longer than coffee beans.

Learning the various ways to make coffee gives you a better understanding of coffee beans. You can explore the different ways to try coffee and see what's your favorite. There's no wrong choice regarding espresso or coffee beans because both are divinely delicious.

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