Espresso Coffee Beans

Our freshly roasted espresso coffee beans are expertly roasted to bring out rich crema, deep chocolatey notes, and a velvety finish. Whether you prefer whole bean, single-serve brew cups, or organic espresso, every sip delivers the intensity and balance espresso lovers crave.

Shot Tower Espresso® whole bean

Shot Tower Espresso® whole bean

Dark Roast

Rich, sweet, creamy complexity

from $ 12.00

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Shot Tower Espresso® brew cups

Shot Tower Espresso® brew cups

Dark Roast

Rich, sweet, creamy complexity

from $ 12.00

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Bonfire Espresso - Fair Trade Organic whole bean coffee

Bonfire Espresso - Fair Trade Organic whole bean coffee

Dark Roast

Bold, silky, complex

$ 16.00

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About our Fresh Espresso Coffee Beans

Our espresso blends are a mix of beans at various roast levels, so they are not really a light roast or a dark roast coffee but are a mix of flavor highlights that makes for a rich, unique flavor profile. Good for both espresso and as a drip coffee or pour over coffee, our espresso blends are rich on flavor and aroma.

What Makes the Best Coffee Bean for Espresso?

Espresso isn’t just about caffeine. It’s about depth, balance, and body. The best espresso beans are chosen and roasted to extract bold flavor and rich crema in a short, pressurized brew. Here's what goes into it:

1. Roast Profile

  • Medium-dark to dark roasts are ideal.
  • Roasting slightly longer caramelizes sugars, enhances body, and reduces acidity. Perfect for espresso’s concentrated format.
  • Verena Street’s Shot Tower Espresso® is a prime example: bold, smooth, and chocolatey.

2. Bean Blend

  • Single-origin beans can highlight distinct notes (like citrus or floral).
  • Blends balance body, acidity, and flavor complexity. What most espresso lovers prefer for consistency and crema.
  • Verena Street uses carefully curated blends to ensure a full-bodied, never-bitter shot.

3. Grind Size

  • Espresso requires a fine grind. Not too powdery, but tight enough for ~20–30 second extraction.
  • Even the best beans won’t perform well without a consistent grind.

4. Freshness & Roast Date

  • Espresso relies on freshly roasted beans (ideally within 2–4 weeks post-roast).
  • Beans that are too old lose aromatics and crema potential.
  • Our beans are small-batch roasted and shipped fresh, right from Dubuque.

5. Flavor Notes That Shine Under Pressure
Great espresso beans have low acidity, a dense crema, and notes like:

  • Chocolate
  • Caramel
  • Toasted nuts
  • Dark fruit or subtle spice

What Makes Espresso Different from Coffee?

Espresso is brewed using a finer grind of coffee, a lower water to coffee grounds ratio, and a pressurized brewing method.

Regular drip coffee uses a coarser coffee grind level, more water, and gravity for the water to extract the coffee.

Espresso is more dense and flavorful than regular coffee, with more caffeine per ounce of finished product, and typically more flavor and body. The brewing method is what makes an espresso, not necessarily the specific bean used.

However, some coffees are roasted specifically for espresso. This does not mean that these coffees cannot be used for regular drip brewing, pour over coffee, in an Aeropress, in a Chemex, or any other brewing methods.

This simply means that a coffee that is roasted specifically for espresso has been created with the final product in mind, meaning the espresso beans typically have more complex body and flavor even if they are not used to create an espresso shot.

Why Choose Verena Street Espresso Coffee Beans?

  • Quality, transparency, environmental stewardship
  • Solar power fuels our roastery in grinding, packaging and warehousing
  • Freshly craft roasted for flavor, aroma and body, bringing you espresso coffee unparalleled in taste.
  • Fast, Free Shipping on orders $40+. 
  • 30-day money back satisfaction guarantee

Best Grind for Espresso

The ideal grind for espresso is fine, similar to the texture of powdered sugar. This consistency allows for optimal extraction during the pressurized brewing process, resulting in a rich and flavorful espresso shot.

Best Coffee for Espresso Machines

For the best espresso experience, choose coffee beans specifically roasted for espresso. These beans are typically darker roasts that have been developed to accentuate the body, crema, and flavor profile ideal for espresso. For the perfect shot, trust Verena Street Coffee espresso coffee beans.

Why Does Espresso Need a Fine Grind?

Espresso uses pressure to extract flavor quickly. A fine grind slows the water flow just enough to pull out bold taste, body, and crema in 20–30 seconds.

Where to Buy Espresso Coffee Beans

For the freshest espresso experience, shop directly online Verena Street Coffee or in-store at 800+ retailers nationwide, including Hy-Vee, Fareway, and select Walmart locations.

Brew Espresso with Confidence

  • Enjoy free shipping on orders over $40.
  • We are confident you'll love our espresso coffee blends. If not, 30-day money back satisfaction guarantee

See What Our Customers Are Saying About Espresso Coffee