Best coffee beans for an espresso machine
Author: AMT SerwisUpdated:
An espresso machine at home or in the office is a real pleasure for any coffee lover. But to enjoy the full taste and aroma of your favourite brew, you also need the right coffee. In this article we try to answer the question: which coffee works best in an espresso machine?
Which coffee for an espresso machine?
If you own an espresso machine, the odds are you value the taste and aroma a good cup of coffee can deliver. You are probably also aware that whole beans are always the way to go. And if you are looking for arguments to convince you that beans beat pre-ground coffee, here are a few.
Coffee ground immediately before brewing has a distinctly richer taste and aroma. That is because coffee in bean form stays fresh longer and is more resistant to going stale than ground coffee. And although many of the ground coffees on the market are vacuum-packed — precisely to slow that process down — the bean's own shell still does the best job of preserving freshness and aroma.
Whole beans also mean control over the grind. You do not get that privilege with factory-ground coffee, and for at least two reasons that matters to every coffee lover and owner of an automatic machine. First, the wrong grind can affect not only the taste but also how the machine runs. Coffee ground too finely can clog the filter. Ground too coarsely, on the other hand, it produces a weaker, less aromatic brew. So whole beans are the better option: they let you control the grind and match it to your own preferences. Of course you can always rely on the settings suggested by the manufacturer — the automatic grinder fitted to most machines can select the grind level for you.
Which beans for a coffee machine?
Some will say Arabica only; others will say Arabica with Robusta, and tell you the exact proportions. We say the best beans are the ones whose coffee you enjoy most. It is true that Arabica beans are often preferred for their more delicate taste and higher grade — coffee from these beans is smooth and velvety. Robusta, by contrast, can be described as stronger and deeper, with a higher caffeine content. It is also worth trying blends: mixtures of two or more coffees which, well composed, can deliver an interesting combination of flavours.
Good taste also depends on the roast level, so it is worth paying attention to that too when choosing coffee for an espresso machine. Avoiding dark roasts is the safe choice, as they can produce an excessively bitter taste. A medium roast is often recommended, since it gives a balanced taste and aroma.
Flavoured coffee in an espresso machine
If the traditional taste of coffee is not to your liking and you reach for sweet, flavoured coffees instead, then before you buy flavoured beans you should know that they are not the best choice for a coffee machine. In our view, flavoured beans are generally a poor choice both for you and for the appliance you will be brewing them in — the grinder in particular, which has to process them. Where is the problem? Flavoured coffee is nothing more than roasted beans, often over-roasted, soaked in artificial oils. Unfortunately those oils coat the grinder burrs and other components beautifully, and can eventually damage the grinder. If you already have this problem, get in touch with our workshop. Sadly, in such cases the grinder quite often turns out to need replacing.
An alternative to flavoured coffee
The problem with flavoured coffee does not mean you have to choose between flavoured coffee and coffee from an espresso machine. Our suggested solution is simple: go for good-quality beans to brew with, and add the extra sweetness with a flavoured syrup.
So which coffee is best?
The one you and the people around you enjoy. Remember that choosing the best coffee for an espresso machine comes down largely to your own taste. So experiment, try different blends and discover new aromas, so that every cup is an experience. To make the first step easier, we have put together a list of the coffees our customers order most often — you may well find your own perfect taste and aroma among them.