Is Coffee or Espresso Better for Me?
TJ Ferrara
about 2 years ago
If you love nothing more than waking up to the smell of fresh coffee, you are not alone. It’s estimated that over 50% of adult Americans consume coffee every day. Coffee has become a symbol for mornings, getting ready for the day and finding our focus. How do you take your coffee? While regular, drip coffee is standard in most homes, many find simple pleasure in preparing coffee other ways. One popular form: espresso. Whether you enjoy your espresso in the comfort of your own home or at your favorite coffee shop, here’s what you need to learn about the differences between coffee and espresso.
What’s the difference between coffee and espresso?
The difference between coffee and espresso has more to do with concentration and preparation than what they actually are.
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Coffee is made from dripping, pouring, or pressing water through ground roasted coffee beans. Most people own drip coffee machines, but you can also make it by pouring hot water over coffee grounds a la the chemex or pour over, or letting grounds soak in a french press before separating the coffee from the beans.
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Cold brew coffee is made by soaking coffee grounds in water overnight and then filtering out the grounds to have a rich coffee concentrate which is then watered down and served cold–generally over ice.
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Espresso on the other hand is made by forcing steaming hot water through espresso grounds. These grounds usually are super dark roasted coffee ground extra fine, but you can use a lighter roast as well, often referred to as a light or blonde roast.
Giving it a shot
When you prepare espresso you usually end up with two shots. If you take both, that is known as a doppio. One shot is about an ounce. One shot has about 64 mg of caffeine.
What do you do with espresso?
We all have our own way of taking our coffee, whether with cream or sugar or simply black. Espresso is usually a little more complex, although it doesn't have to be. Espresso can be enjoyed much like regular coffee with a little cream or just black. But in most cases, people enjoy it as a drink. These espresso drinks were traditionally made with milk, but nowadays they can be served with your favorite non-dairy alternative. You can take your BUBS Collagen and MCT Oil Powder with you anywhere, too, so you can get that goodness in anywhere.
A few classic espresso drinks include the following:
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Cappuccino: A traditional cappuccino has even layers of espresso, steamed milk, and foamed milk.
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Latte: A latte starts with a single or double shot of espresso topped off with several ounces of steamed milk, which is mixed in. It has a light layer of foam. It is often sweetened with sugar or honey or jazzed up with flavors such as caramel, vanilla, and of course pumpkin spice in the fall.
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Mocha: A mocha is usually just a latte served with mocha, chocolate, syrup, or flavoring.
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Americanos: americanos are pretty simple–just espresso and water.
Other ways to enjoy espresso
Espresso can be enjoyed apart from traditional beverages!
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Making it dirty Espresso can be used to spice up other beverages, like tea. A dirty chai latte is a chai latte with a shot of espresso.
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Redeyes and blackeyes Maybe coffee or espresso are not enough alone for you. In that case, you may want to try a redeye, which is a cup of coffee with a shot of espresso. Think that’s not enough? And another shot and call it a black eye. Just be careful with how much caffeine you consume. While it is rare, it is possible to overdose on caffeine.
What’s the deal with caffeine in coffee?
One shot of espresso has about 64 mg of caffeine, which means that per ounce it has more caffeine than a regular cup of coffee. That being said, most people enjoy espresso in other drinks, so find out how much espresso is being used in your latte or mocha to really gauge how much caffeine you are consuming. So how much coffee do you need? Most cups of coffee contain 100mg of caffeine, so one to two cups before working out or starting your day should be enough. For espresso, this would be about two shots, which is pretty standard for most medium or regular-sized espresso drinks.
How long does caffeine stay in the system?
Some people claim that they can sleep even after drinking coffee, and many European cultures enjoy a cup of coffee after dinner. But according to the FDA, the half-life of caffeine is four to six hours. That means that in 4 to 6 hours half the caffeine in your coffee will still be in your body. This also makes it a little hard to gauge when it will totally clear your system, but 10 hours later is a pretty safe bet. This is why most people recommend cutting off your coffee consumption by around 3 pm for the sake of a good night’s sleep.
MCT: A great choice for your coffee
It might be tempting to load up your coffee with cream and sugar, and while that’s not necessarily bad, there are better options that can give you a more sustained burst of energy, like MCT oil. MCT, or medium-chain triglycerides, usually comes in an oil or powder form derived from coconuts. It is keto, paleo, Whole30, and even vegan friendly, making it a great non-dairy creamer alternative for most diets. MCT oil is known for being a clean, ketogenic energy source. It is broken down in the liver, bypassing the digestive system almost entirely, so many people report a boost of energy almost immediately. The benefits go beyond just energy too. The healthy fats in MCT oil are great for the gut and digestion and even the immune system. It can also help you curb your appetite and decrease sugar cravings. You can also add it to your favorite espresso drinks. Try adding it to your hot milk or milk alternative when making lattes. Another thing to note: you don’t have to have a fancy espresso machine to make great lattes at home! Heat up your milk in the microwave and use this wand to make foam at the fraction of the cost of a steamer…or even Starbucks!
Why an MCT oil powder?
BUBS Naturals MCT Oil comes in a powder form because it is easier on the digestive system. This also makes it easier to blend with our signature collagen peptides, so you can really make the most of your coffee.