Filter vs Espresso Roast

This is a question we get from our guests all the time. We tend to answer it with an important question to start. Are you brewing with an espresso machine or filter method?

What’s the difference between?

Our approach is to adjust our roasting to make the process of brewing coffee at home as easy as possible. 

Espresso

The espresso machine tends to highlight the natural acidity of a coffee due to the addition of pressure in the equation. We can roast in a way that mutes this natural acidity. Our aim when roasting is to have the inside of the bean to be at a similar colour to the outside of the bean. This will allow anyone to brew a classic 2:1 ratio espresso that has a balance of sweetness and acidity.

Filter

In the absence of pressure a different approach to roasting can benefit filter coffee. Opposite to our espresso roast we want to create a large colour gradient from the inside to the outside of the bean. The inside will be lighter and the outside will be darker. This will allow you to easily achieve a complex and bright coffee at home.

What if I want to brew espresso roast on pour over?

There is truly nothing wrong with doing this but there are some disadvantages to it. Due to our approach to espresso roasting, above, you may find your pour over to be dull and maybe even boring. We don’t believe this to be a valuable experience for you.

What if I want to pull a shot of espresso from a filter roast?

Again, there is nothing wrong with doing this. It is fairly unlikely that you’ll find a classic 2:1 ratio espresso to be balanced. This is caused by the inside of the bean being roasted lighter, making it harder to extract. You will find a more balanced espresso when you extract with more water and more time. This can be a fun experience to try at home but it may take you several attempts to extract an enjoyable espresso. You can use a bag of coffee very quickly this way and therefore may not be the best choice for everyday use.

Recommended Product: Shop Filter Roasts Shop Espresso Roasts