CoffeeForums Coffee Facts

Q: I looked up a Latte recipe, and it calls for Espresso coffee, but I have just regular Folgers coffee.

A: In a Nutshell? Espresso is ground much more fine than regular 'Folgers' coffee. It is then "Tamped" (Or compacted slightly), and hot water is forced through the grounds, to create a much stronger, darker type coffee. This is what is used in coffee house drinks such as Lattes, Cappuccinos, and such. You can purchase a home Espresso machine from a store ('Wal-Mart'/'Kohls', etc...), and with a little practice, you too will be able to make a mean Mocha! Espresso is the grind. There are coarse, medium, and fine grinds. Coarse is for a French press coffee machine, medium (the most popular and most likely what you have) is for a slow drip coffee machine with the filters, and fine is for an Espresso machine (very expensive). The more fine the grind, the stronger the coffee and caffeine. If you have regular 'Folgers', it is probably a medium grind. To make an Espresso drink with this, put in extra coffee and less water (3 table spoons per cup). This will make the coffee stronger, and be the closest alternative to an expensive Espresso machine. Espresso is a darker, richer coffee with a finer grind. Usually, Espresso is made in a French press or Espresso machine. If you enjoy dark, rich, robust coffee, and don't want to go to the trouble of making Espresso, try 100% Kona coffee - no blends because they only use a little Kona coffee (may as well use 'Folgers'). You can get pure Kona coffee from https://konaluna.com and they also tell you all about the different roasts and grinds - very good info. An Espresso machine brews Espresso roast (very fine grind of Espresso roasted beans) by a combination of pressure and steam. It creates a very concentrated shot with a crema (foam) on top. To make a true Latte, you need an Espresso machine with Espresso roast and steamed milk.