Last updated on October 24th, 2023 at 19:08
An espresso concentrate is easy to make and handy to have if you want to make a quick cold brew coffee (just add water!), cocktails like an espresso martini and many baked goods.
In this article you’ll find a tasty and delicious espresso concentrate recipe.
Keep reading and get brewing!
What Is An Espresso Concentrate?
Table Of Contents
An espresso concentrate is a highly focused and concentrated espresso that is more concentrated than the standard 1:1.5 coffee to water ratio of a standard shot of espresso. An espresso concentrate used a 1:1 coffee to water ratio, the same as a ristretto.
It is normally brewed cold and stored in the fridge and used for making espresso martinis and other coffee cocktails as well as baking and cooking.
It is very easy to make at home but requires little to no special equipment.
Let’s get making it.
Read: Does cold brew have more caffeine than espresso?
Espresso Concentrate Recipe
Making an espresso concentrate is easy and doesn’t need any special brewing equipment other than a container to hold your grounds and water while it is steeping. A metal filter to strain the brew and separate the brewed coffee from the grounds when you have completed brewing.
Follow the instruction to make a rich and flavorful espresso concentrate that you can use for baking, making coffee cocktails and for making cold brew coffee.
Ingredients Needed
- 12 Ounces (360 grams) of coarsely ground coffee beans of your choice.
- 12 Ounces (360 ml) of water.
- An airtight glass container.
- A metal filter, or a metal mesh sieve, will serve well.
Medium-dark to dark roasted coffee is perfect for making espresso concentrate.
Instructions
This recipe is using a coffee to water ratio of 1:1 which is strong. Place your 12 ounces (360 grams) of coarsely ground coffee beans in a glass container and add 12 ounces (360 ml) of ice-cold water.
Add the lid to the air-tight glass container; a mason jar is fine. Stir or shake your container and store it in your fridge.
This step of using ice-cold water and storing it in your fridge helps to extract all the low temperature compounds. The airtight lid is important to prevent the scent and flavors from other food items into the brewing espresso concentrate.
Leave your espresso to extract for 16 to 24 hours. Test after 16 hours for taste. If the taste is not as expected, taste test again after a further 2 or 3 hours.
When the taste hits the spot and is perfect for you, use a metal filter to remove the coffee grounds from your espresso concentrate. If you fail or forget to do this step, your coffee grounds will continue to extract, and you will eventually end up with a bitter and over brewed coffee.
Store your espresso concentrate in an airtight container and store it in your fridge and keep it fresh.
Serve And Enjoy
You can enjoy your espresso concentrate as it is, with a 2/3 of an ounce (20ml) which is a perfect focused and cold ristretto or you can add water to it. If you want to make neat espresso-like beverage, pour one ounce (30 ml) and add half an ounce (15 ml) of water to match the coffee to water ratio of an espresso and enjoy your cold espresso.
You can also add hot water, if you so wish.
How Do You Heat Espresso Concentrate?
There is no requirement or need to heat the espresso concentrate per se. The best way of heating it up is to add hot water to the concentrate.
Add 7 ounces of hot water to a 1 ounce of espresso concentrate will create an amazing and tasty 8 ounce hot cold brew coffee. Enjoy all the well balanced and well rounded flavors of a cold brew, except enjoy it hot!
Frequently Asked Questions About Espresso Concentrate
Is Coffee Concentrate The Same As Espresso?
No, coffee concentrate is not the same as espresso. Even though the coffee is more concentrated and focused it is brewed in a different way and thus extracting different compounds resulting in a different texture and taste.
The distinctive crema is missing from a coffee concentrate. A coffee concentrate is simply a coffee that is brewed, usually using a drip brewing method using a more focused coffee to water ratio. Usually a 1:4 or 1:2 coffee to water ratio is used instead of the 1:16 coffee to water ratio for drip coffee.
How Do You Use Espresso Concentrate?
With an espresso concentrate you can add water to it to make a strong coffee. How much water you add will depend on how you like your coffee. If you like it strong, add twice as much water as espresso concentrate. If you like your coffee weaker, add 3x or 4x as much water as you use espresso concentrate.
If you want hot coffee add hot water, if you want cold coffee add cold water and ice.
Can Coffee Concentrate Replace Espresso?
It depends on what you are making and what results you are looking to achieve. For baking and cooking, you can substitute espresso with coffee concentrate. If you are making Americanos, Frappe, and other coffee beverages, you won’t get the same quality, the results. It would be like replacing an espresso with strong brewed coffee.
In an emergency, and you have nothing else that you can use, you can certainly get away with using coffee concentrate to replace espresso.
Read: Cold brew espresso
Is Coffee Concentrate Stronger Than Coffee?
Yes, regular coffee varies in the coffee to water ratio depending on the brewing method and technique used:
- French Press: 1:12
- Pour Over: 1:17
- Drip Coffee: 1:16
- Percolator: 1:16
- Moka Pot: 1:12
- Cold Brew: 1:8
Cold brew coffee concentrate ranges from 1:2 to 1:4. It is focused and much stronger which is why it needs to be diluted with water.
Is Coffee Concentrate Better?
Better is a very subjective term and depends on how you want to use the coffee concentrate. If you want your coffee to last a long time, then a concentrate is better.
For example, a regular cold brew coffee will only stay well for 5 to 7 days in your fridge. But if you want to make a batch of coffee that last longer, make a cold brew concentrate as it will stay fresher for much longer, for up to 2 weeks in your fridge.
If you like sweet coffee, then you may find a coffee concentrate to be better as they are often sweeter than regular coffee when served cold.
Which Espresso Is The Strongest?
A ristretto is the strongest espresso. A ristretto is 2/3rd of the volume (2/3 of an ounce or 20 ml) and a more focused coffee to water ratio using a 1:1 ratio instead of 1:1.5.
It is stronger and more focused in taste, a beautiful, sweet and intense shot.
Final Thoughts – Espresso Concentrate
Now you know what an espresso concentrate is and have a great recipe you can get making it with ease. I always have a concentrate on hand and in my fridge as they stay fresher much longer, typically for a week to 10 days.
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Derek Marshall
Derek Marshall, a certified barista by the Specialty Coffee Association possesses over two decades of experience in specialty coffee shops. He holds professional certifications for coffee brewing and barista skills. Derek is also an author with authoritative books covering various coffee topics including specialty coffee, sustainability and coffee, coffee brewing, coffee recipes, coffee cocktails and books focusing on Brazilian coffee, Vietnamese coffee, Indonesian coffee and Malaysian coffee. As a barista for over two decades, Derek Marshall has worked in specialty coffee shops across the United Kingdom, Spain, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. His expertise extends to the distinct coffee cultures, specialty beverages, and brewing techniques of each nation. Functioning as a coffee consultant, Derek charges US$50 per hour. To learn more about Derek Marshall and Latte Love Brew, visit his About Me Page. For coffee inquiries, contact him at +34-639-410-375 or Derek@LatteLoveBrew.com, mentioning your name and location
