An espresso is an ounce (shot) of coffee brewed by pressure forcing very hot water (close to boiling point) through grounded coffee beans.
With crema on top, it is often the weapon of choice for people at work trying to keep themselves awake due to it’s high concentration of caffine.
The small serving of one short makes it easy for a person to consume within seconds.
Espresso is commonly used as the base for other milk-based coffee drinks like:
- Lattes
- Cappuccino
- Flat white
- etc
However, baristas should note that espressos start to turn sour after about 40 seconds after dispensing from a coffee machine.
So when working on a latte for example, the frothed milk should be poured into the cup as soon as the espresso is dispensed.