Is Espresso Just Stronger Coffee?

Jun 3

A cozy deep dive into what makes espresso its own kind of magic.

At The Greenhaus Coffee, Co., we believe that great coffee moments are rooted in curiosity. Those little questions that spark big flavor journeys. One of the most common questions we get from customers is:

“Is espresso just really strong coffee?”

At a glance, it makes sense. Espresso is tiny. It’s intense. It looks like the concentrated heart of a regular cup of joe. But the truth is: espresso is not just stronger coffee. It’s a different brewing method altogether, with its own rich history, technique, and flavor experience.

Let’s unravel the difference together, one sip at a time.

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☕ What Exactly Is Espresso?

Espresso originated in Italy in the early 20th century, born from a desire to make coffee faster, more efficiently, and more boldly. It’s brewed by forcing hot water through a tightly packed “puck” of finely ground coffee using about 9 bars of pressure—that’s nine times the atmospheric pressure at sea level. The result is a 1 to 2-ounce shot of intensely flavored coffee topped with a signature golden crema (that frothy layer of emulsified oils and microbubbles).

Unlike regular drip coffee, which slowly seeps through grounds by gravity alone, espresso is all about speed, precision, and pressure.

Espresso isn’t a roast level or bean type, rather it’s a method of preparation. Any coffee bean can be used to make espresso, though blends specifically developed for espresso tend to highlight rich, chocolatey, low-acid notes.

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☕ How Espresso and Regular Coffee Are Similar

At their core, espresso and regular brewed coffee share the same foundation: roasted coffee beans and water. The flavor of both is influenced by origin, roast level, and bean quality. In that way, they’re siblings.

You’ll find the same comforting notes of chocolate, citrus, fruit, or nuts in both formats depending on the beans you use. You can even use the same beans in an espresso machine and in your drip brewer (though they may behave differently).

So yes—espresso is coffee. But it’s crafted in a very particular way.

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☕ How Espresso and Coffee Differ

Here’s where things get interesting. The differences between espresso and regular coffee go far beyond the size of the cup.

1. Brew Method

• Espresso: Uses pressure to brew a shot in 25–30 seconds.

• Coffee: Uses time and gravity, typically taking 3–5 minutes (drip) or longer (French press, pour-over).

Espresso machines are built for precision—everything from temperature to grind size to tamping pressure can change the final flavor. It’s a faster, more intense process.

2. Grind Size

Espresso requires a very fine grind, almost like powdered sugar, to create resistance during brewing. Regular coffee calls for a medium to coarse grind, depending on the method. A finer grind in a drip coffee maker would lead to over-extraction and bitterness.

3. Caffeine

Here’s where most of the “stronger” confusion comes in.

• A single shot of espresso (1 oz) contains about 63 mg of caffeine.

• An 8 oz cup of regular coffee contains about 95 mg of caffeine.

So: Espresso is more concentrated, but a full cup of coffee usually has more total caffeine. It’s like comparing a square of dark chocolate to an entire chocolate bar—small but mighty versus broad and mellow.

4. Taste & Body

Espresso is:

• Bold

• Syrupy

• Often more bitter or intense

Regular coffee is:

• Milder

• Cleaner in texture

• More nuanced depending on the brew method

Both have their own kind of depth. Espresso hits fast and lingers. Drip coffee unfolds gently.

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☕ Is One Better Than the Other?

Not at all. It depends on what you’re looking for.

• Need a quick, rich kick of energy? Espresso is your friend.

• Want to savor a cup while reading or journaling? Regular coffee is your moment.

Some people prefer the ritual of espresso—the tamping, the pull, the crema. Others love the slow, meditative pour-over or a good French press bloom. Both offer unique flavor experiences.

At The Greenhaus Coffee Co., we love both for different reasons. Our signature roast makes a beautiful pour-over and our new espresso yields balanced shots with notes of dark chocolate.