By definition, espresso is a beverage that is made with very finely ground coffee that has been extracted with very high pressure. Espresso is still a form of coffee. While some beans are called “espresso beans” or “espresso roast”, espresso can be made with any kind of coffee beans out there. Some beans provide a more traditional flavored espresso and traditionally espresso has been made with very dark roasted coffee, but the current trend in specialty coffee is to make espresso with lighter roasts. Therefore, what defines espresso is the brewing method, not the coffee beans that are used. “Coffee” is a broad terms to describe all brewing methods, although most people think of coffee as drip or batch brewed coffee.
