If you’ve ever had coffee, you’re probably aware that there are two main ways to consume it. Espresso or filter coffee is used depending on the preference of the drinker.
Is filter coffee stronger than espresso?
Although you may believe it isn’t, science has discovered who the real winner is. So let’s take a look at which one it is.
A typical 8 fl oz/236 ml cup of filter coffee contains 150-210 mg of caffeine on average, depending on the brand.
A shot of espresso containing 1 oz/33 ml of liquid contains approximately 63 mg of caffeine.
A drip-filter system, or even a pour-over system, produces a stronger cup of coffee because the water is in contact with the grounds for a longer period.
Espresso is well-known for being strong and quick, but it never manages to fully extract all of the caffeine from the 7 grams of ground coffee because of its rapidity.
As a result, the filter comes out on top in this case. However, another, more delicate coffee surpasses even the best filter coffee in terms of flavor. But more on that in a moment.
We should start with a look at why filter coffee is considered stronger than espresso in the first place.
Compared to an espresso shot, filter coffee contains significantly more caffeine.
A filter machine does not appear to produce excellent coffee when viewed in its entirety. After all, the majority of them appear to be fairly straightforward. They do, however, pack a powerful punch.
Their appeal stems from the fact that the water that drips from the dripper/shower remains in contact with the ground coffee for several minutes after it is turned off.
This means that the flavor, nutrients, and caffeine in your coffee will have been extracted to the greatest extent possible.
A pot of coffee takes approximately 3 minutes to brew on average. This could be more or less depending on how little or how much water you put into the filter.
Because of this, the coffee is extracted for those three minutes, resulting in an extremely strong caffeine kick.
When it comes to the caffeine content of filter coffee, why is there such a wide variation?
Because coffee is almost always brewed using a blend of Robusta and Arabica beans, there will never be two cups of coffee that contain the same amount of caffeine as one another.
The caffeine content of Robusta is significantly higher than that of Arabica. It is nearly twice as high as Arabica’s caffeine content, reaching 2.7 percent compared to Arabica’s 1.5 percent.
It’s also more bitter than Arabica, though both have their uses and complement each other well in certain situations.
The addition of Robusta to the mix results in a lighter or stronger cup of coffee, depending on how much is blended in with the Arabica.
All of this takes place within the confines of an 8 oz/236 ml cup of freshly brewed coffee.
Because few people drink coffee in a smaller cup, this has become the accepted standard measurement. Compared to a cup of coffee, an espresso shot contains exactly 1 oz/33 ml of brew.
Filter Coffee is a type of coffee that has been filtered.
Why would you believe espresso is more potent?
A shot of espresso’s flavor and bitterness are the most important factors to consider…
As a result, if you were to compare a shot of espresso that had just been made to a cup of black coffee, you would conclude that the espresso was stronger.
This coffee has a much stronger flavor that is bitter and strong in comparison to filter coffee.
This is due to the brewing method used and the high concentration of an espresso drink.
A shot of espresso (1 oz/33 ml) requires 7 g of ground coffee to make one serving. Compared to this, 8 oz of filter coffee uses approximately 15 grams of ground coffee.
According to concentration, espresso will have a much stronger flavor than filter coffee and brewed coffee.
In addition, it contains the coffee oils that are absent from filter coffee.
This is because filter coffee is made with either a permanent filter or paper filters, both of which trap the coffee oils before they ever reach your pot of coffee.
In addition to fine dust that comes with ground coffee and seeps into a shot of espresso but not filters coffee, the filter effectively traps larger particles of dust.
Comparing a cup of filter coffee with espresso means that the espresso will have more body to it, be in a stronger state, and appear more ‘whole.’
Finally, let’s talk about how espresso is served in a very small glass cup. It contains approximately 63 mg of caffeine in a 1 oz/33 ml serving, which is small but potent when you consider that it is the source of the caffeine.
However, only a few people enjoy a shot of pure espresso, served black and with nothing else added to it.
The majority of people would order one of the 12 most popular coffee drinks, which are all based on espresso. And in some cases, such as a latte or a frappuccino, this would increase the total serving size to as much as 12 oz/354 ml, or even more.
Even if you specify otherwise, this will still be made with only one espresso shot. As a result, the total caffeine content is equal to the equivalent of one shot of espresso.
French press coffee has a stronger flavor than filter coffee, and espresso has a stronger flavor than both.
There is another type of coffee that is stronger but more delicate. If you’re on a quest to find the strongest possible cup of coffee, regardless of the brewing method, I feel compelled to mention it.
The French press may be the best way to brew coffee, but it is not.
Simply put, it’s coffee steeped in hot water and filtered through a metal filter to keep the gunk from settling at the bottom of the beaker.
With this blend of filter coffee and espresso, you get the best of both worlds in terms of flavor.
As a result of the grinding process, you obtain a small amount of coffee dust and the coffee oils that would normally be obtained from an espresso. Crema, on the other hand, is not available.
In addition, the steeping time is significantly longer than that of an espresso.
When using a French press, it is customary to steep coffee for 4 minutes at a time. Extending your coffee extraction time beyond 4 minutes will result in over-extraction and losing its flavor.
As a result, the French press is considered the pinnacle of high-quality, flavorful, and robust coffee.
Because it requires more cleaning and maintenance than a filter machine or a pour-over system, it is not as comfortable to use as these alternatives. However, the benefits are well worth the effort.
If you cannot locate a French press, filter machines or a pour-over system will perform admirably in your place.
Finally Thoughts
Filter coffee is a bit like the underdog of the coffee world in terms of popularity.
You never expect it to win, but it manages to make it to the end.
I’ve had both filtered coffee and espresso over the years, and I’ve concluded that espresso is too… sour? Is it acidic? It’s a little unpleasant, at least for me.
Knowing how much caffeine each method can provide is important when figuring out which one will get you out of bed and into the morning routine the most quickly and efficiently. Consequently, I recommend that you stick with filter coffee, which is superior in almost every way.