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Struggling with strong coffee flavors? Don’t worry! You’re not stuck with just sugar and milk to make it better. There are plenty of ways to enjoy your caffeine fix without the bitterness.
What if you could enjoy a sweeter, more caffeinated espresso without any sweeteners?
Blonde espresso brings a smooth, slightly citrusy twist to your cup, using light roast beans. It packs more caffeine than regular espresso, giving you a stronger kick without the bitter taste.
Discover the unique tastes of blonde espresso and regular espresso in this guide. Get your latte ready, and let’s explore together!
Blonde Espresso vs Espresso: A Quick Comparison
| Blonde espresso | Espresso | |
|---|---|---|
| Flavor | Sweet and mellow, hints of caramel and citrus zest | Robust and bitter, subtle caramel-like notes |
| Coffee bean | Light roast beans with a lighter shade and matte finish | Dark roast with a darker hue and oily finish |
| Caffeine content (per shot) | 85 mg | 65 mg |
| Roasting condition | 355–400 °F for 4-6 minutes | 437–446 °F for 8-9 minutes |
What Is Espresso?
Espresso is a rich, bold coffee made by pushing hot water through finely ground, dark roast coffee for about 25 to 30 seconds. This method gives it a strong and intense flavor.
Espresso packs a punch with its strong flavor and rich body, which might be too much for some on its own. That’s why many coffee drinks start with espresso and add things like milk, water, cream, or sweeteners to soften the intensity and create a variety of tasty options.
What Is Blonde Espresso?
Blonde espresso, made with light roast beans and made famous by Starbucks, offers a sweet and smooth taste. It’s ideal for anyone seeking a caffeine kick without the intense, bold taste of strong coffee. Perfect for beginners!
Blonde espresso, or blonde roast, is not just a drink on its own—it’s also a base for other coffees. When whipping up a latte or cappuccino, try using blonde roast beans instead of dark for a unique brew.
When did Starbucks introduce blonde roast?
In 2012, Starbucks launched blonde roast, but it wasn’t until January 2019 that it became a staple. Now, coffee lovers can choose between the classic Starbucks espresso roast or the lighter, trendier blonde roast to personalize their drink.
Blonde Roast vs Regular Espresso
Now that you’ve explored basic coffee types, let’s dive into comparing regular espresso with its lighter cousin, blonde espresso. You might just find a new favorite!
- Blonde espresso is sweet and mellow. Blonde espresso has a more balanced flavor than espresso. Its sweet and bright citrus zest is smoother to drink than the bitter and caramelized regular espresso.
- Blonde espresso has a higher acidity. Blonde and dark roasts have a pH level of around 4.5 and 5.9, respectively. With one being the most acidic, a blonde espresso is more acidic than a regular one.
While this acidity adds to the citrus flavors, it may trigger trouble for those with underlying health conditions related to acid reflux and other digestive problems.
- Blonde roast has more caffeine when brewed by volume. Blonde roast is denser than dark roast espresso beans, so it yields a higher caffeine content than the latter when brewed by volume. In other words, more coffee beans are present in the blonde roast for the same number of scoops.
Blonde espresso packs 85 mg of caffeine per shot, more than the 65 mg in a regular espresso.
- Blonde roast has less caffeine when brewed by weight. Since the blonde roast is denser and heavier, it uses fewer coffee beans to achieve the desired weight for brewing. Hence, a blonde roast contains less caffeine by weight than a dark roast.
- Blonde roast beans are light brown and matte finish. Blonde roast has a fairer hue and matte finish, while dark roast exhibits a darker shade and oily finish due to more oil drawn to its surface.
- Blonde roast undergoes a shorter roasting period. Coffee beans roast for 4 to 6 minutes for a blonde roast, while dark roast takes 8 to 9 minutes. However, some people end the process early for a blonde roast as soon as the first crack appears.
- Blonde roast withstands lower roasting temperature. Blond roast reaches 355 to 400 °F – lower than the roasting temperature of 437 to 446 °F for a dark roast.
How to Make Regular and Blonde Espresso at Home
What you need
- Whole coffee beans for a double shot
- 20 g of dark roast espresso beans for regular espresso
- 18 g of blonde roast coffee beans for blonde espresso
- Filtered water
- Coffee grinder – For an accurate and consistent grind size, it’s best to invest in good coffee grinders. They require minimal effort and are especially useful for grinding the tough, less brittle, lightly roasted coffee beans.
- Espresso machine – Authentic espresso comes from a quality espresso machine. But if you’re still looking for alternatives, I recommend checking out these pod-based coffee makers.
- Nespresso dominates the capsule market with its broad range of coffee maker models and prepackaged coffee blends. You can use their espresso capsules for a regular espresso or the Nespresso Blonde Roast Pods for a blonde espresso.
- Keurig is another player in the capsule market, with over 400 varieties of coffee blends exclusive to their coffee makers. You may brew using their regular espresso K-cups or try the Starbucks Blonde Roast K-Cups.
Step-by-step instructions
- Grind coffee beans finely. Regular espresso uses a fine grind, while blonde roast can be slightly finer than the dark roast to counter its lower solubility. Remember that how you grind coffee beans affects the efficiency of extraction and flavor of your coffee.
- Wipe portafilter. Clean the portafilter and dry its surface with a towel to prevent any water residue from affecting the quality of your espresso.
- Tamp coffee ground in the portafilter evenly. The tightly compacted coffee puck opposes the smooth flow of water, forcing it to soak and extract the flavors. This step also prevents the likelihood of watery coffee.
- Secure the portafilter in place. This step is crucial to prevent accidents resulting from possible pressure leakage exerted by espresso machines. Some mid-range espresso makers can even reach up to 19 bars – about nine times more than your car tire pressure!
- Pull the lever. A regular espresso takes 25 to 30 seconds of steeping. Typically, light roast leans on the higher side of this steeping range due to its denser package.
- Enjoy. Time to bear the fruits of your labor and take a sip of your delicious coffee!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does blonde espresso have more caffeine than espresso?
Blonde roast typically contains 85g of caffeine per ounce of espresso, while a regular shot has about 65 mg. And so, the blonde roast has a higher caffeine count than espresso.
Is blonde roast stronger than espresso?
Let us first put strength into context. Based on caffeine content, blonde roast with 85 g is stronger than espresso having 65 g of caffeine. In terms of flavor, regular espresso is more robust and bolder than blonde roast.
All in all, blonde roast and espresso are both strong coffee drinks. They might even solve your problems with coffee not waking you up.
Blonde Roast: Espresso for the Sweet Coffee Lovers
Gone are the days when strong, bold coffee was the go-to for a quick caffeine fix. Now, blonde espresso is stealing the spotlight! It’s not just gentler on the taste buds but also packs more caffeine and sweetness in every sip.
Don’t wait! Try the boldest Starbucks coffees with a light, blonde roast. You might find it tastier than their classic espresso blend!
Dive into the world of bold coffee with my nitro cold brew recipe. It sounds fancy, but trust me, anyone can make it. Let’s start brewing!
