First, coffee and espresso differ in their methods of extraction. While drip coffee relies on soaking coffee grounds in boiling water to let the liquid drip through, espresso requires forcing hot water through finely ground coffee at high pressure.
Pour-over, French press, and automated coffee makers all fall into this category.
For drip coffee, users can choose from a wide variety of roasts. For espresso, medium and dark roasts are preferred because they offer the most nuanced espresso taste..
In terms of grind size, espresso strictly requires fine to superfine grounds for a thorough extraction — while drip coffee uses coarse to medium grind sizes
The process can be done with a manual espresso maker, a moka pot, or an espresso machine—all three ways can make equally tasty, flavorful espresso if done correctly.
We’ve found the ones with built-in grinders to be the most user-friendly and economical for beginners, and one highly-rated espresso machine from DeLonghi even comes with a built-in tamper, which makes the brewing process mess-free.
These portable, lightweight gadgets work like percolators but brew smaller cups of espresso. In addition to stovetop espresso making, moka pots are perfect for camping trips.
If none of these options seem like a good fit, but you still need your caffeine fix while shops are closed, a pod espresso maker can help—these machines require zero assembly and you can start brewing right out of the box.