49th Parallel Coffee Roasters
North Star

Espresso is a concentrated coffee beverage brewed by forcing hot water through finely-ground coffee beans under high pressure. It is characterized by its rich flavor and distinctive crema—the creamy layer that forms on top of the extracted process. When evaluating espresso, coffee experts often focus on key tasting characteristics such as aroma, flavor, body, and aftertaste. Aroma refers to the fragrant smells released during brewing, while flavor encompasses the coffee's overall taste profile, including notes of sweetness, bitterness, acidity, and richness. Body refers to the coffee's texture or mouthfeel, with descriptors like full-bodied, medium-bodied, or light-bodied. Aftertaste, or the finish, pertains to the lingering flavors and sensations experienced after swallowing the coffee. A well-prepared espresso is prized for its balance and complexity, combining these sensory attributes into a harmonious whole.