What Does Espresso Taste Like? (FULLY EXPLAINED)

Wondering what espresso tastes like?

You've come to the right place.

We're explaining everything about the flavor of espresso in this article.

Let's begin...

What Does Espresso Taste Like?

Traditionally, espresso had a very bitter and roasty quality to it that some coffee roasters choose to continue producing to this day. In modern times, espresso can have a range of flavors. You can experience hints of stone fruits, cocoa, savory flavors, and more.

However, this is not necessarily due to adding in flavors to the actual coffee beans. This is simply due to the inherent flavor of the natural coffee bean, enhanced by the picking, drying, exporting, and roasting process. That being said, let’s go over what espresso GENERALLY should taste like.

An espresso generally has chocolate or nuttiness as a base flavor. This is one of the first or last things you may experience while sipping coffee. It is most attributed to the “natural” or standard flavor of coffee most people are searching for, and what is the highest export in South American coffees.

In the middle of your sip and also faintly on the finish, you may experience more fruity and complex flavors. This is due to the different acids present within the coffee. Similar to how banana has malic acid to help deliver its flavor, coffee has similar compounds to produce its fruity flavors.

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Does Espresso Taste Like Coffee?

Typically, espresso tastes quite similar to coffee. Though it is highly concentrated, so it’s almost as if you are having a small mug of coffee in just a few sips. This is why people choose to enjoy the beverage slowly, and why others choose to add water, milk, or sugar.

Is Espresso Bitter or Sweet?

Espresso tends to incorporate a wide range of flavors and can inhabit both bitter and sweet flavors simultaneously. Though most people would describe the taste of espresso as ‘bitter.’ However, this is highly due to the actual bean and process of brewing the espresso. Generally speaking, a ‘good’ shot of espresso should be well-balanced, have a chocolatey or nutty base, and a smooth finish.

Read Also: How Many Oz Are in a Shot of Espresso?

Does Espresso Have a Strong Taste?

Espresso is widely described as having a “strong” taste in its profile. It is a concentrated amount of coffee, therefore the flavor profile is more concentrated and complex than most other foods and beverages we are used to.

What is the Espresso Flavor Wheel?

The Flavor Wheel in reference to coffee is a chart used to supply verbiage for the way a coffee tastes. You start with a larger category such as floral, fruity, nutty–and work your way down to more specific flavors like lime, apple, clove, etc.

Read Also: Is Blonde Espresso Strong?

How to Make Espresso Sweeter?

Espresso can be made sweeter in a variety of ways. Starting with the way it is roasted and extracted. By creating a more smooth, well-balanced roast profile you can achieve a sweeter result. Pulling a shorter shot can also enhance the inherent sweetness of the bean. Other options include adding milk which has sugar, or adding sugar itself. When a smooth and sweeter outcome is desired, add both milk and sugar.

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Tony Barlow, with over a decade of experience in the coffee industry, is the go-to technical sales expert at Majesty Coffee. He's passionate about helping businesses find the right espresso equipment for their needs.