Espresso vs. Coffee: What's the Difference & What's Better?
Coffee has a magical way of making any day brighter. Not only does it taste incredible, but it gives you the energy boost you need to get through your day. From pour-overs and cold brew to lattes and cappuccinos, there are countless ways to enjoy it.
Many of these popular drinks are actually made with espresso, while others are brewed coffee. Understanding the difference between espresso and coffee is the key to understanding what’s really in your cup—and finding the drink that fits you perfectly.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about espresso vs. coffee, including the primary differences, what’s better, and a few answers to popular questions.
Espresso: The Bolder Brew
Espresso is an embodied, rich form of coffee with a bold flavor. The brewing method involves creating intense pressure to extract flavors for a double shot of espresso, equaling about 2 ounces.
Here are a few key elements of espresso that make it different than coffee:
Grind Size: The grind size is really important for a solid double shot of espresso. If the grounds are too coarse, the shot may taste under-extracted or sour, and if they’re too fine, it may taste over-extracted or bitter. Espresso requires very finely ground beans to achieve proper extraction.
Ratio: Espresso uses a 1:15–1:2.5 grounds-to-water ratio, typically served in 2 ounces. While single shots of espresso are possible, many specialty coffee shops don’t offer them for ultimate flavor and consistency. For a standard double shot of espresso, baristas use 20 grams of finely ground coffee to produce 34–40 grams of espresso in 30–36 seconds.
Brewing Process: Espresso is created by forcing hot water at high pressure through a puck of finely ground coffee very quickly. This produces a concentrated double shot of espresso with a rich, foamy crema on top. Making espresso requires an espresso machine, including a portafilter (which holds the coffee grounds), a tamper to compress the grounds evenly, and precise control of water temperature and pressure to ensure proper extraction.
Coffee: The Classic Brew That’s Easy to Make At Home
Coffee is often served in 6–8-ounce portions and is not as strong or bold as espresso. It still carries an embodied taste, but isn’t extracted under intense pressure or a fine grind size like espresso. Coffee can be made at home with a coffee maker or in several other forms, including pour over, French press, Moka pot, among others.
Here are a few distinctions of coffee:
Grind Size: While it depends on how you’re preparing your coffee, the grind is often coarser than espresso. For instance, cold brews call for an extra-coarse grind, while pour overs require a medium grind, similar to that of rough sand. Coffee-based drinks are usually medium to coarse grind size, not fine like espresso.
Ratio: Coffee uses a ratio of 1:15 to 1:18 grounds-to-water. For special drinks like cold brew, the ratio is 1:4 to 1:8. Coffee produces a much larger portion than espresso, since it’s not as strong.
Brewing Process: The brewing technique for coffee really depends on your preferences. Some prefer pushing a button and having the grinds run through a coffee machine, while others enjoy the long process of pouring water over grounds with a kettle for a pour over to a more defined flavor. There are many ways to brew coffee, but they all require gravity and a filter rather than pressurized water to do the work.
7 Differences Between Espresso and Coffee
There are about 7 major differences between espresso and coffee:
Grind size
Extraction time
Taste
Amount of caffeine
Presence of a crema
Serving size
The time it takes to brew
Espresso is a bolder, more intense brew than coffee with a lower grounds-to-water ratio. Here’s a simple breakdown of espresso vs. filter coffee:
| Espresso | Coffee | |
|---|---|---|
| Grind Size | Very fine | Medium to coarse |
| Extraction | Uses pressure; short contact | Uses gravity; longer contact |
| Taste | Extremely bold; slightly bitter | Lighter; reveals unique notes |
| Caffeine | ~125–150 mg (2 oz) | ~95–165 mg (8 oz) |
| Crema | Yes | No |
| Serving Size | 2 oz (Double shot) | 8 oz (Standard cup) |
| Brew Time | 25–30 seconds | 4–6 minutes |
It’s essential to note that both coffee and espresso use the same beans—there aren’t espresso beans and coffee beans. The primary difference lies in how the beans are ground, brewed, and sipped.
What’s Better: Espresso vs. Coffee
So, let’s answer the age-old question, “Is espresso or coffee better?” The answer: it depends on what you like.
If you’re into bold, intense flavors and don’t need the milk or sweeteners to enjoy coffee, go for the double shot of espresso.
If you like a smoother, balanced cup that you can make easily at home, try a good old cup of coffee.
The best thing about both espresso and coffee is that they can be dressed up and customized according to your preferences. Lattes are a popular espresso-based drink that adds 8 ounces of milk to a double shot of espresso—and you can even add a sweetener if you’re into that. Pour overs, French presses, and Chemex are common coffee brewing methods that elevate an average cup of joe. You can also add milk or a sweetener to coffee, or even make it as a cold brew and have it over ice.
The bottom line: both espresso and coffee are excellent options for emerging coffee connoisseurs and those new to the game. If you’re at a coffee shop, tell the barista what you like so they can help you order the perfect drink. If you’re at home, experiment to find what you enjoy most.
Coffee vs. Espresso: 3 FAQs
Is espresso stronger than regular coffee?
Espresso is more concentrated than coffee and has more caffeine per ounce (63 mg compared to about 12–15 mg per oz), making it bolder-flavored. However, a regular 8-ounce cup of coffee can contain more caffeine, up to 165 mg, compared to a double shot of espresso, which has about 125–150 mg of caffeine.
So, if you’re asking about flavor, espresso is stronger, but on the subject of caffeine, it’s coffee that takes the lead.
2. Is 1 shot of espresso equal to 1 cup of coffee?
No, it is not. A single shot of espresso, which isn’t common in specialty coffee shops, is only 1 ounce, while a cup of coffee is often 8 ounces. Additionally, 1 shot of espresso has much less caffeine than a cup of coffee.
3. What is healthier, espresso or coffee?
Since both espresso and coffee are made from the same beans, they can provide the same health benefits as coffee, such as high levels of antioxidants and increased focus. One is not healthier than the other.
The more important thing to pay attention to is what you’re adding to your coffee or espresso. If you’re adding milk, sweeteners, and other additives, it can uptick the calories. On the other hand, if you just enjoy plain espresso or coffee, you’ll enjoy the benefits of caffeine at a low caloric count. Another thing to keep in mind is to enjoy coffee and espresso in moderation. Too much of either can result in jitters, trouble falling asleep, and increased anxiety.
Espresso vs. Coffee: Both Are Perfect for the Coffee Lover
Now that you know the differences between espresso and coffee, you understand that both are special in their own way. One is bold while the other is balanced and smooth, and neither is worse than the other. The best part is that you can enjoy both with customizations according to your cravings and preferences.
If you want to try a perfectly brewed cup of coffee or an expertly extracted double shot of espresso, visit a local specialty coffee shop near you. For Southern California residents, try out a cafe like Inicio Coffee Company to put espresso and coffee to the test. Our menu features espresso-based drinks like the Sugar & Spice Latte or a pour over made with beans like Guatemalan or Ethiopian. If you’re planning an event, book our LA coffee cart and have your guests try espresso vs. coffee.
Whatever you decide to order, you’re in for a treat. Visit us in the San Fernando Valley and tell us what you think about our espresso and coffee!