How to Drink Espresso

27 June, 2022
Kevin Seidnitzer

How to Drink Espresso

Now that you know how to make authentic espresso at home, you need to know how to properly enjoy it.

Sure, you could down it in one, er, shot, but to properly appreciate and savor its flavors, as well as respect the technique put into its creation, follow the simple steps below.

Step 1: Cleanse Your Palette

When you cleanse your palette, you eat or drink a neutral-flavored food or drink that will serve to remove any lingering flavors from your mouth. This will allow you to enjoy the next thing you eat or drink from a fresh perspective.

Depending on where you are making or ordering your espresso, your barista may provide you with a small bottle or glass of still or sparkling water before making or serving your espresso.

While this won’t happen in a large chain or local shop (who may be concerned about profit margins), it does tend to happen in more traditional establishments.

Step 2: Sitting vs. Standing

Now, it’s time to decide your stance.

Traditionally – and this is still practiced in Italy – people will drink espressos standing up at the kitchen counter or bar. This is a fast beverage that doesn’t take too long to drink.

Drinking your espresso in this way can also save you money, as Italian coffee bars tend to double the price of your beverage if you decide to drink your coffee sitting down at a table.

However, if you want to rest your legs, or if drinking espresso in other locations, it is equally as acceptable to drink your espresso seated at a table.

Step 3: Decide Whether You Want the Crema

The “crema” on your espresso is the light, thin layer of foam that sits on its surface.

When ground coffee comes into contact with hot water during the process of making your espresso, it will release small bubbles of carbon dioxide. Initially, these bubbles are suspended in the water of the drink, but as pressure is applied during the brewing process, the bubbles attach to the ground coffee’s natural oils and fats and rise to the surface of the drink.

Whether you drink the crema or not will depend on personal preference. Crema, itself, tastes very bitter.

While some people enjoy it and consider it part of the espresso experience, the vast majority of people do prefer to remove it rather than consuming it. Removing the crema also doesn’t take away from the flavor or texture of the espresso itself, meaning you don’t lose anything by disposing of it.

If you wish to remove the crema, simply use a teaspoon to scrape it from the surface. You can usually place it on a napkin, which can then be thrown away.

If this is your first time drinking espresso, why not try two?

You can try one with the crema and one without (using a palette cleanser in between) to determine which you like best.

Step 4: Decide Whether You Want to Stir

Once you’ve decided what to do with your crema, you can stir your espresso. Again, this is a point of personal preference.

Espresso tends to separate shortly after it has been brewed, with the heavier elements of the drink sinking to the bottom and lighter elements rising to the top.

Traditionally, people wouldn’t have stirred their espressos, instead, simply drank it as served. People who choose to avoid stirring tend to enjoy tasting the different elements of the espresso separately, with the differences in flavor and texture between the first and last sip being gradual.

Those who prefer to stir their espresso generally prefer a more consistent drink with a well-balanced flavor and texture throughout.

Again, it’s worth trying both stirred and unstirred espresso to determine which you like best. If you decide to stir, simply use a fresh teaspoon to gently stir the small drink until the liquid appears even.

Step 5: Drink Your Espresso

Now that all of the prep work has been completed, it’s time to drink your espresso.

There are different ways to drink an espresso shot and – (are you noticing a trend yet?) – you will have to try both ways to figure out which ticks your boxes.

If you want your espresso to be a fast, pick-me-up, you can drink it quickly. This can be in one shot or a couple of sips, allowing you to enjoy the hot drink before it cools.

If you want to savor and appreciate all the different notes and complex flavors of the espresso, making this more of an experience, you can take your time, taking small sips.

Make sure that each sip completely covers your tongue for maximum flavor.

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