Enjoying a coffee drink has its many benefits, especially one that features espresso. Not only does it taste delicious when it is specially prepared to your liking, but choosing espresso also has the capability to give your mood a boost.

Selecting espresso over a regular cup of coffee can make a noticeable difference in your energy levels. Because it is normally stronger, you will notice that you become more awake at a faster rate.

A lot of people believe that it is too difficult to make coffee shop drinks from the comforts of home, but with an espresso machine, you will be able to easily recreate your favorite pick-me-up drinks.

Is Espresso Better Than Coffee?

Many people wonder what the big deal is with espresso. Isn’t it just coffee? Roasty Coffee explains that there are actually many notable differences between the two (https://www.roastycoffee.com/coffee-espresso/).

Coffee comes from the liquid that is extracted directly from the bean. It is a slower process when you make a cup of coffee because the grounds need to be brewed for several minutes.

When you make a cup of espresso, it is finished instantly.

The difference comes from the fineness of the grind and the faster brewing time. When coffee roasters know that a certain type of bean is going to be made for espresso, they usually pick the strongest and best quality ones from the bunch.

Because of the way that espresso is prepared, it is known for being a lot purer than a regular cup of coffee. You can create a type of foam that sits on the top layer of the espresso which provides a nice flavor.

Again, this is all possible because of the high temperature of the brew combined with the quality of the coffee grounds. After you make the espresso, you can create standard coffee drinks that you are probably familiar with purchasing: lattes, cappuccinos, macchiatos, and frappes.

With a little bit of practice, you can skip the coffee shop and make all of these drinks from home.

What is An Espresso Machine?

Perfect Daily Grind explains how an espresso machine works (https://www.perfectdailygrind.com/2018/11/how-do-espresso-machines-work/). Once you end up purchasing your own machine, it is important to understand all of the components involved.

The espresso machine works by using boiling water and steam to create a high-pressure chamber while brewing your espresso. When using an espresso machine, you must make sure that it is fully preheated or else your brew is not going to taste right.

Every so often, you must also remember to clean out the machine. Old grinds can get stuck inside, causing an almost bitter taste.

The water tank must be filled in order to complete a brew. Once you have your grinds and a full tank, you must place the grinds in the head of the machine and tamp (flatten) them down.

After securing the device back onto the machine, you will place your coffee cup below. At the press of a button, your espresso is ready to brew. This process generally only takes a few seconds depending on how many shots you would like to make.

Since espresso is stronger than regular coffee, most people find that they only need around 2-3 shots in order to feel the effects.

Espresso is a highly concentrated form of caffeine consumption.

How Do You Make Espresso Drinks?

The following is a basic guideline for how to make each individual espresso drink. You can modify each recipe to your own liking, adding and omitting ingredients or steps as necessary.

Latte: The most basic of all espresso beverages, one of the most popular, a latte is a drink that many people enjoy. There are 2 main components to this beverage; espresso and milk.

1. First, you are going to want to brew your shot(s). This part depends on how strong you would like your latte to be.
2. Next, steam the milk of your choosing.
3. After this is finished, you add the two together.
4. If you would like, you can add a bit of flavor to customize your latte.

Mocha: A mocha is essentially just a chocolate latte.

1. The same steps apply as above. The main difference comes when you begin to steam the milk;
2. Make sure that you add your chocolate flavoring (normally powder). It will be like you are making a hot chocolate and adding espresso to it.

Cappuccino: This beverage is all about foam!

1. After brewing your espresso, you need to steam just a little bit of milk.
2. By placing the steaming tool near the surface of the milk, you are going to want to create bubbles.
3. After adding a touch of steamed milk to the beverage, you will then fill the rest of the cup up with foam.
4. This drink is going to be stronger than your traditional latte.

Frappe: A tasty treat that is enjoyable during the hot months, you are going to need a blender for this one.

1. After brewing your espresso shots,
2. Combine them with milk, ice, and any flavoring of your choice in a blender.
3. Blend up the ingredients until the consistency is something similar to a slushie (https://espressocoffeeguide.com/all-about-espresso/espresso-drink-recipes/).