
You can also use a food processor or even a pestle and mortar at a pinch. The aim is to get the coffee as finely ground as possible so a blade grinder like an automatic spice grinder does the job very well. The good news is, you don’t actually need a top-of-the-range coffee grinder to make espresso powder. Coffee grinders can be expensive and a good quality burr grinder is always recommended when brewing espresso coffee. Coffee GrinderĪ lot of people panic when they see a coffee grinder listed as the first item needed to make espresso powder. You don’t need a huge array of equipment to make espresso powder and you’ll probably find that you have most of these things to hand already. Coffee that’s intended for use with a french press, Moka pot, or cold brew is also a good indication that’s it’s a bolder, darker roast. You can use pre-ground coffee but the flavors will always be more intense if you choose fresh coffee. Look for coffee labeled as espresso beans, dark roast, or french roast. Darker roasts have more intense, single-note flavors like burnt caramel and dark chocolate, perfect for most baking recipes. To get a rich, espresso-like taste it’s best to use a medium or dark roast coffee bean. When you set out to make your own espresso powder, the first thing you need to consider is the coffee you will use. You can even mix it in with cake frosting to give it a rich, dark taste. It works especially well when combined with cocoa powder to give a strong, chocolate finish to your recipe. You can use it as a garnish or topping for ice cream, cakes, and even hot drinks like a mocha hot chocolate. You can dissolve it in a little water first if you’re making a batter for chocolate cake or brownies or add it dry if it’s intended as a meat rub. All you need to do is simply add it to the dish you’re making. The good news is, it’s really straightforwards to cook using espresso powder. You can’t use espresso powder to brew coffee but it does add a lovely taste to a huge range of recipes. It gives a subtle flavor to culinary dishes but won’t brew a rich and tasty cup of joe. Your own, homemade espresso powder contains the actual coffee beans so doesn’t dissolve completely if added to water. This means it adds a lovely taste to any dish but is much too strong to brew into your morning cup of java.

Store-bought espresso powder is pretty similar to instant coffee but is far more concentrated. You can use instant coffee in place of espresso powder but the coffee flavor is less complex as it doesn’t have the same depth of flavor. There are hundreds of varieties of instant coffee available and some are sold under the name espresso coffee. This dissolves when added to hot water to give you a cup of coffee. Instant coffee is made from brewed coffee that has been freeze-dried into powder or granules.

Expresso powder vs. instant coffee how to#
It can be confusing to compare espresso powder to instant coffee powder so here’s how to spot the differences.

It can be made from fresh coffee beans, fresh ground coffee, or even used coffee grounds. Homemade espresso powder is made from coffee beans that have been dried and finely ground into a fine powder. It won’t make a tasty cup of coffee, however, as the flavors are far too intense. It’s made from extremely concentrated coffee that has been dried into crystal form so it dissolves in liquid.

Shop-bought espresso powder is typically a very concentrated form of instant coffee. It works really well in chocolate recipes to give an intense chocolate flavor and it also adds a dark, savory depth to chili, stew, as well as meat rubs. It’s used in sweet and savory recipes as a secret ingredient to add depth and enhance other flavors. From espresso beans to espresso grounds, and instant espresso powder it’s no wonder people get confused.Įspresso powder is an ingredient familiar to bakers and chefs as opposed to coffee shop baristas.
Expresso powder vs. instant coffee full#
Now let’s delve into espresso powder in a bit more depth and find out what it is, how to use it, and the full instructions for making your own DIY espresso powder at home.Ĭoffee comes in so many forms and it can be really difficult to figure out what it is that you actually want when you’re browsing the aisle in your local grocery store. Simply warm the coffee until it’s all dried out and crispy and then grind the lot into an ultra-fine powder. It may seem like a specialist ingredient but espresso powder is surprisingly easy to make.Īll you need is some fresh coffee, a grinder, a baking sheet, and an oven. It’s not just sweet treats that call for a dash of coffee, many savory dishes will also benefit from this magic ingredient.Īlthough it is possible to buy espresso powder ready-made, homemade is always a bit more satisfying and gives you full control over the flavor profile of the coffee. If you’ve ever baked a rich chocolate cake or an indulgent tray of brownies then you may be familiar with the notion that a little hint of espresso can really enhance those chocolatey flavors.
