Java Jim

January 30, 2010

Defining Espresso Coffee Cups

Filed under: Coffee — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — Wenona Crudd @ 6:38 pm

Espresso coffee cups are only sort of coffee cups. They’re like a shot glass version of a coffee cup, which does make sense as they are not supposed to be used with coffee, but rather with espresso. Yes, they certainly look like little bitty coffee cups, but it’d be rather frustrating trying to get a caffeine buzz from a cup that was so tiny. After all, the purpose of coffee for most people is to get energized quickly, without sleeping.

How Are Espresso Coffee Cups Different From Other Coffee Cups

Espresso coffee cups are much smaller than your standard coffee cup. Although there doesn’t seem to be any set standard that espresso coffee cups follow as far as size. In fact, espresso coffee cups are often mixed in with cappuccino cups, latte cups, and other coffee cup type things, with only the manufacturer labels separating them. All of these cups have one thing in common: they all come with little matching saucers.

Why Are Espresso Coffee Cups So Small?

Espresso is much stronger and thicker than coffee, which is why espresso coffee cups are much smaller other coffee cups. Your average cup of coffee only has about a third the caffeine of the same volume of espresso. Of course, this is a very rough estimate, as the amount of caffeine and strength of the blend is very dependent on both how the coffee is ground, and the bean itself. You can easily get very different experiences by trying different brands, and blends within those brands, and espresso is not excluded.

How Is Espresso Different Than Normal Coffee

Espresso is not actually a type of blend or bean, but a method of preparation. Density is the biggest difference between regular coffee and espresso. This incredibly dense and strong coffee comes from forcing pressurized water through fine coffee grounds. Once you see the stuff, which has the consistency of a thin syrup, you understand why most people would not want an entire standard coffee cup of espresso at once.

Are There Espresso One Cup Coffee Makers?

Many one cup coffee makers really aren’t capable of making real espresso. This is because espresso requires far more water pressure than regular coffee brewing, and your average one cup coffee maker really isn’t up to the task. There are special espresso coffee pod holders that are available for use in espresso machines. If you’re in to K-Cups coffee, there are some stronger blends that are labeled espresso blends. These solutions, though, probably aren’t worth getting out your tiny espresso coffee cups, as you’ll likely still need a full size coffee cup to get your fix. Ironically, although they are called coffee pods, most ESE coffee pods work much better in an espresso maker than a 1 cup coffee maker.

For more information about coffee cups, check out Great Coffee Cups.

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