Q&A for How to Drink Espresso

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  • Question
    What is the difference between filter coffee and espresso?
    Rich Lee
    Coffee & Food Program Director, Spro Coffee Lab
    Rich is the Coffee & Food Program Director of Spro Coffee Lab in San Francisco, a California-based company that specializes in craft coffee, experimental mocktails, and culinary food science. Together with his team, Rich strives to bring forth a uniquely transcendent experience, free of stereotypical eats and drinks. Prior to owning his own business, Rich was a barista for big name coffee retailers such as Blue Bottle Coffee and Sightglass.
    Coffee & Food Program Director, Spro Coffee Lab
    Expert Answer
    Technically speaking, espresso is also a type of filtered coffee. Espresso is filtered through a metal filter and the holes that espresso is allowed to pass through are much bigger than that of a paper filter. The size of the holes in the metal filter will make the coffee taste grittier and thicker, which is why espresso is thicker in terms of viscosity. Every time you drink a shot of espresso, it should taste more velvety compared to filtered coffee, which is typically more tea-like.
  • Question
    What is it called when I ask for my iced coffee to have the espresso poured in after it's already prepared?
    Community Answer
    You could order an iced espresso, and it would be prepared as you described.
  • Question
    How do I find out who wrote this article?
    Michele
    Top Answerer
    If you click on the tab History, you can view who began the article and everyone who has contributed to it.
  • Question
    I asked for an espresso in a well known place and was shocked at what I received! It came in the smallest cup I have seen I was lucky if it had been 20mls of very strong coffee it barely covered the bottom. Why?
    Community Answer
    Depending on the location, asking for "an espresso" is asking for one shot, or ~1 oz of espresso. They are often served in smaller cups than regular cups of drip coffee.
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