Short answer
Espresso is a small, concentrated coffee made by forcing hot water at high pressure through finely ground beans for about 25 to 30 seconds. It has a layer of golden crema on top and is the base for lattes, cappuccinos and americanos.
Espresso is a small, concentrated coffee made by forcing hot water at high pressure through finely ground beans for about 25 to 30 seconds. A single shot is about 30 ml, topped with a golden layer of crema. Espresso is the base of lattes, cappuccinos, americanos and most other cafe coffee drinks.
What is espresso?
Espresso is a method of brewing coffee, not a type of bean. A machine pushes water heated to roughly 90 to 96 degrees C through a tightly packed puck of fine grounds at around 9 bar of pressure, which pulls out a thick, syrupy coffee in less than half a minute.
The word is Italian and is usually taken to mean coffee made “pressed out” for the person ordering it. The method grew up in Italy and is now the standard way cafes around the world start most of their coffee drinks. In English the word is spelled espresso. The spelling “expresso” is a common mistake and is not used by the trade.
What does espresso taste like?
Espresso tastes strong, rich and slightly sweet, with a bitter edge balanced by acidity. Because so little water is used, the flavour is concentrated, and it feels heavier in the mouth than a cup of drip coffee.
Taste depends on the beans, the roast and the extraction. Lighter roasts often taste fruity and bright. Darker roasts lean toward chocolate, caramel and roasted nuts. A well-made shot is balanced, neither harshly bitter nor sharply sour.
What is crema and why does it matter?
Crema is the reddish-gold foam that sits on top of a fresh espresso shot. It forms when pressure forces tiny gas bubbles and coffee oils into the liquid, and it fades within a minute or two.
Crema is a sign of freshly roasted beans and a proper extraction, but it is not a guarantee of flavour. Very dark roasts and robusta beans tend to make a thicker crema. Many baristas stir the crema into the shot before drinking so that the layers taste even.
How is an espresso shot made?
A shot is made by grinding, dosing, tamping, brewing and serving, and each step affects the taste.
- Grind the beans fresh to a fine, even size.
- Dose the grounds into the portafilter basket, commonly about 18 g for a double.
- Level and tamp the grounds firmly so water flows through evenly.
- Lock the portafilter into the machine and start the pump.
- Stop the shot at about 36 g of liquid for a double, after roughly 25 to 30 seconds.
- Serve at once, because espresso cools and loses crema quickly.
These numbers are a common starting point, not a law. Different cafes and beans call for a different dose, yield and time.
How much is a single, double and ristretto?
A single shot is about 30 ml, a double is about 60 ml, and a ristretto is a shorter, more concentrated shot. Most cafes now build their milk drinks on a double, even when the menu lists a single.
| Style | Typical liquid | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Single | about 30 ml | Small, strong, sharp |
| Double | about 60 ml | Standard base for most cafe drinks |
| Ristretto | about 20 ml | Shorter, sweeter, heavier |
| Lungo | about 90 ml | Longer, thinner, more bitter |
What drinks are made from espresso?
Most cafe coffee drinks are espresso plus water, milk or both. The ratio of espresso to milk is what changes one drink into another.
- Americano: espresso topped with hot water.
- Caffe latte: espresso with a lot of steamed milk and a thin layer of foam.
- Cappuccino: espresso with steamed milk and a thick cap of foam.
- Latte macchiato: milk with espresso poured through it.
- Mocha: espresso, chocolate and steamed milk.
- Spanish latte: espresso with milk and sweetened condensed milk.
How is espresso different from drip coffee?
Espresso is brewed under pressure in about half a minute using fine grounds, while drip coffee is brewed by gravity over several minutes using a medium grind. The result is small and concentrated for espresso and large and mild for drip.
| Espresso | Drip coffee | |
|---|---|---|
| Grind | Fine | Medium |
| Brew time | 25 to 30 seconds | 4 to 6 minutes |
| Pressure | About 9 bar | None, gravity only |
| Serving size | 30 to 60 ml | 240 ml or more |
| Body | Thick, syrupy | Lighter, cleaner |
Per millilitre, espresso has more coffee dissolved in it, but a full mug of drip coffee can contain more caffeine in total simply because the cup is bigger. This is a point about volume, not a health claim.
How do you make espresso at home?
True espresso needs a machine that can reach about 9 bar, but several simpler tools make a strong coffee that works in milk drinks.
- Espresso machine: the closest match, from small manual machines to automatic ones.
- Moka pot: a stovetop brewer that makes strong coffee at lower pressure.
- AeroPress: a hand-pressed brewer that makes a concentrated cup.
- Turkish cezve: a small pot for very fine grounds, not filtered.
Whichever you use, a burr grinder and fresh beans matter more than almost any other upgrade. Pre-ground coffee goes stale quickly and rarely gives an even extraction at espresso fineness.
What goes wrong with an espresso shot?
Most poor shots come from the grind, the dose or the freshness of the beans. A shot that runs fast and tastes sour is under-extracted, and a shot that drips slowly and tastes harsh is over-extracted.
- Runs too fast and tastes sour: grind finer, or raise the dose slightly.
- Runs too slowly and tastes bitter: grind coarser, or lower the dose.
- Thin crema and flat flavour: beans may be stale, so check the roast date.
- Uneven taste from shot to shot: level and tamp the same way each time, and keep the grinder clean.
Change one thing at a time and taste after each change. Coffee beans also behave differently as they age, so a recipe that worked last week may need a small adjustment this week.
How should you order espresso at a cafe?
Ask for a single or double shot by name, and say if you want it as a short or long pour. Most cafes serve a single in a small cup, and some default to a double when a drink is made with milk.
If the shot is too intense, ask for an americano, which adds hot water, or a latte, which adds steamed milk. Both keep the espresso flavour but soften it. The shot is usually served with a small glass of water so you can rinse your palate between sips.
What espresso does Kareza Cafe list?
Kareza Cafe lists an Espresso Shot at $3.13 on Uber Eats, read 14 November 2026, described as a single shot of espresso. The same page lists the Americano, Latte Macchiato, Caffe Latte, Cappuccino, Mocha Latte, Spanish Latte and White Mocha, all espresso-based classic coffees.
Prices are Uber Eats app prices and may differ in the cafe. The full list is on the menu and prices page, and opening times are on the hours and location page. This guide is independent and takes no orders.
Common questions
How many ounces is a shot of espresso?
A single shot is usually about 30 ml, roughly one ounce, and a double shot is about 60 ml. Exact volumes vary between cafes, because some measure by liquid weight and others by volume.
Is espresso a type of bean or a roast?
Neither. Espresso is a brewing method. Any coffee bean can be used, although many cafes choose a medium to dark roast blend because it holds up well when mixed with milk.
Why does espresso taste bitter or sour?
A bitter shot is usually over-extracted, with grounds too fine or water running too long. A sour shot is under-extracted, with grounds too coarse or a run that is too short. Adjusting the grind fixes most cases.
What is the difference between espresso and drip coffee?
Espresso is brewed under pressure in about half a minute and served in small amounts. Drip coffee lets hot water pass through coarser grounds by gravity over several minutes and is served in a large cup.
Can you make espresso without a machine?
Not true espresso, because it needs high pressure. A moka pot, an AeroPress or a Turkish cezve makes a strong, concentrated coffee that can stand in for espresso in a milk drink.
This page is part of the independent guide to Kareza Cafe, which has the address, hours and menu.
This article is general information from an independent guide, not from Kareza Cafe itself. For the store’s current details see hours and location.