Which coffee to choose for espresso at home

Choosing a good coffee for espresso is not just about looking for intensity. Origin, flavour profile, roast level and freshness have much more influence than most people think. In this article, we explain what to look for so you can choose the right coffee for your espresso at home.

Making a good espresso at home does not depend only on the machine. The coffee you choose plays a key role in the final result. Many people look for a “strong” coffee, but a good espresso stands out not only for its intensity, but also for its balance, sweetness, body and clarity in the cup.

At 98% Monkey, we understand espresso as a way of enjoying coffee with character and depth, without losing the identity of its origin.

What type of coffee usually works well for espresso

In general, coffees with sweet, round and easy-to-enjoy profiles tend to work very well for espresso. The notes that usually fit especially well are:

• chocolate
• cocoa
• nuts
• caramel
• ripe fruit

This kind of profile usually offers a more comforting, stable and easy-to-enjoy cup for everyday drinking.

There are also fruitier or more floral coffees that can produce very interesting results in espresso, although they usually create a livelier, more expressive and less classic profile.

The importance of the roast

One of the most common mistakes is thinking that espresso always needs a very dark roast. That is not necessarily the case.

An excessively dark roast can hide nuances, increase bitterness and make the coffee lose part of its personality. A well-developed roast, on the other hand, allows for a cup with better balance, improved texture and greater clarity of flavour.

When a coffee is roasted properly, its natural nuances can be appreciated more clearly in espresso, without falling into burnt or flat flavours.

Which origin to choose

Origin has a strong influence on the final profile in the cup.

Coffees from Brazil are often a very good choice for those looking for sweet espressos with body and notes of chocolate or nuts.

Coffees from Guatemala, Colombia or Peru also tend to offer very good balance, solid structure and a pleasant acidity.

If you prefer a more lively and aromatic cup, some coffees from Ethiopia or Kenya can be very interesting, with a fruitier and brighter profile.

There is no origin that is objectively better than another. What matters is finding the profile that best matches your taste.

Whole bean is better than pre-ground

Whenever possible, it is worth buying coffee as whole bean for espresso and grinding it just before brewing.

This allows you to:

• preserve aroma better
• keep more freshness
• adjust the grind size to your machine
• improve the final result in the cup

If you do not have a grinder, it is still better to buy a quality coffee and ask for it to be ground for espresso, although you will have less room for adjustment.

What to consider before buying

When choosing a coffee for espresso at home, it is worth paying attention to several points:

• flavour profile
• origin
• process
• freshness
• the information provided about the coffee

The better a coffee is explained, the easier it is to choose with confidence and get closer to the profile you actually enjoy.

Our recommendation

If you are just starting out or you are looking for an espresso that is easy to enjoy, it is usually best to begin with sweet, full-bodied profiles with notes of chocolate, cocoa, caramel or nuts.

These coffees usually work very well both on their own and with milk, making espresso easier to enjoy from the very beginning.

At 98% Monkey, we focus on specialty coffees with their own identity, selected so that every cup has meaning, origin and character.

Discover our selection

Discover our selection of coffees for espresso at www.coffee98monkey.com and find the profile that suits you best.