An espresso blend is a coffee specifically designed for brewing espresso, typically made by combining different coffee beans.
Understanding Espresso Blends
Unlike single-origin coffees, which come from one country or region and have unique flavours specific to that area, an espresso blend is created by mixing coffees from multiple origins. According to one source, an espresso blend is made by blending two or three coffees together.
The primary reason for creating these blends is that espresso blends require more depth and complexity than single origin coffees. Blending allows roasters to combine the desirable characteristics of different beans – perhaps balancing acidity from one origin with body or sweetness from another.
Key characteristics and requirements of espresso blends often include:
- Depth and Complexity: Achieving a multi-layered flavour profile.
- Consistency: The blend need[s] to remain consistent throughout the year, ensuring the same taste profile regardless of seasonal variations in single-origin crops.
- Performance with Milk: They are formulated to cut through milk, making them ideal for popular espresso-based drinks like lattes and cappuccinos where the coffee flavour needs to stand out against the milk.
Espresso Blends vs. Single Origin
The key distinction lies in the origin and intended profile. A single-origin is a coffee from one country or region, celebrated for its unique, terroir-specific flavours. Espresso blends, conversely, are a curated mix, designed to achieve a specific, consistent flavour profile that performs well under espresso brewing conditions and complements milk.
This blending process allows roasters greater control over the final taste, aiming for a balanced, robust, and complex profile that might be difficult to achieve consistently with a single bean type.
