Freshly roasted espresso coffee beans

Espresso Coffee Beans

Explore our curated selection of espresso coffee beans, specially chosen for their exceptional performance in espresso brewing. Each coffee in this collection offers a rich, balanced profile with clarity, sweetness and depth – ideal for both straight shots and milk-based drinks. While these coffees are handpicked for espresso, we roast coffee beans to be versatile and well-developed, making them equally delicious across a range of brew methods, including pour-over, AeroPress, and French press. 

To learn more about brewing fantastic espresso take a look at our espresso brew guide or read our article focusing on the best espresso coffee beans.

  • Supernova single origin coffee from Horsham Coffee Roaster

    Supernova

    NEW
    Dates | Molasses | Chocolate

    Supernova El Salvador | Natural

    From £10.50
    From £10.50
  • Nova espresso blend coffee beans

    Nova Espresso Blend

    NEW
    Dark Chocolate | Nuts | Sweet Caramel

    Nova Espresso Blend Washed & Pulped Natural

    From £9.00
    From £9.00
  • Workhorse Blend Coffee Beans

    Workhorse Blend

    Orange | Chocolate | Sweet Caramel

    Workhorse Blend Washed & Pulped Natural

    From £9.00
    From £9.00
  • Horsham Coffee Roaster coffee package with 'El Zumo' blend on a white background

    El Zumo Blend

    Cherry | Caramel | Chocolate

    El Zumo Blend Natural, Honey and Washed

    From £10.75
    From £10.75
  • Cooperative coffee beans

    Cooperative

    RELATIONSHIP COFFEE
    Red Apple | Caramel | Chocolate

    Cooperative Costa Rica | Honey

    From £10.50
    From £10.50
  • Brazil single origin coffee beans

    Brazil Single Origin

    Hazelnut | Milk Chocolate | Dried Fruits

    Brazil Single Origin Brazil | Natural

    From £9.75
    From £9.75
  • Decaf coffee beans

    Decaf

    Rich Chocolate | Nuts | Gentle Fruits

    Decaf Mexico | Washed & Mountain Water

    From £9.00
    From £9.00
  • Blend Selection

    Blend Selection

    10% OFF
    Horsham Coffee Roaster

    Blend Selection

    £35.00
    £39.00 £35.00
    Sale

Buy speciality espresso coffee beans from a Sussex roaster

Every coffee in this collection is freshly roasted to order in Sussex on our Loring S35 eco-roaster, and curated for outstanding espresso performance. We work directly with producers in Rwanda, Brazil, Costa Rica and Kenya, and source the rest of our range through importers who share our commitment to transparency. Whether you want a traditional Italian-style chocolate-and-caramel shot, a juicy fruit-forward modern espresso, or a forgiving everyday workhorse — there's something here for you.

Our top espresso recommendations

Best espresso blend for everyday drinking

Workhorse — a balanced 50/50 of washed Rwanda and pulped natural or natural from Brazil. Forgiving on most home espresso machines, particularly good with milk. Our most popular option.

→ Shop Workhorse

Best espresso blend for traditional Italian-style drinking

Nova Espresso — built around the same coffees as Workhorse but roasted slightly darker, with a higher Brazil percentage. The classic flat white / cappuccino blend — rich dark chocolate, nuts and sweet caramel.

→ Shop Nova Espresso

Best espresso blend for fruity, modern flavour profiles

El Zumo — our most adventurous blend. Higher cup score, juicy and fruit-forward. A real talking-point espresso for anyone bored of standard chocolate-and-nut profiles.

→ Shop El Zumo

Best single origin for espresso

Brazil single origin — naturally processed and full-bodied with classic chocolate-and-nut character. The most "espresso-friendly" of our single origins and a great entry point for anyone curious about brewing single origins on espresso.

→ Shop our Brazil coffees

Best ethical everyday espresso

Cooperative — our rotating small-hold producer coffee, currently featuring honey-processed Catuai from La Cumbre in Costa Rica. Paid 150% above the Fairtrade minimum. Medium roast, balanced, sweet — great with or without milk.

→ Shop Cooperative

How to brew great espresso at home

Most modern speciality espresso recipes follow a 1:2 ratio. As a starting point:

  • Dose: 18g coffee in
  • Yield: 38g-40g espresso out
  • Time: 28–32 seconds from pump start
  • Water temperature: 93–94°C

Darker roasts can benefit from a shorter yield and lighter roast coffees may taste better with a longer yield (ie 40-44g of espresso). For full guidance, see our espresso brewing guide.

Three things that matter more than people expect

Rest your coffee. Freshly roasted coffee releases CO2, which makes espresso channel and taste harsh. We suggest resting around 10 days from the roast date before you start dialling in.

Use filtered water. Espresso is roughly 90% water. Hard tap water dulls flavour and scales your machine; a simple jug filter is a noticeable improvement.

Grind fresh, and weigh everything. Coffee starts losing aroma within minutes of grinding, and small dose changes make a big difference at espresso ratios. A set of scales removes most of the guesswork.

Espresso coffee beans for every kind of machine

Bean-to-cup machines

Bean-to-cup grinders are usually less adjustable than a standalone grinder, so a forgiving medium-roast blend gives the most consistent results. Workhorse and Nova Espresso are both good choices, and both are available in 1kg and 2.5kg if you're getting through it quickly. Avoid anything oily and very dark, which can clog the grinder.

Pressurised or dual-wall baskets

If your machine came with a pressurised basket, it creates pressure artificially rather than relying on your grind, which means grind size matters less and roast level matters more. A medium to medium-dark blend may taste best here.

Moka pot and stovetop

Moka needs a grind between espresso and filter, and rewards the same coffees that work as espresso. Nova Espresso and Workhorse both hold up to the higher extraction.

Cafés, offices and bulk

We supply espresso to wholesale partners from Sussex to Scotland, and have done since 2012. Most of our blends are available in 1kg and 2.5kg bags, with volume pricing on the larger sizes. For a café, office or subscription setup, see wholesale coffee or coffee for offices.

How to choose the best coffee beans for espresso

Espresso Coffee Beans FAQ's

What makes a coffee bean suitable for espresso?

Espresso-suited beans typically offer a balanced flavour profile with good body, sweetness, and clarity under pressure. Our espresso picks are curated for their excellent extraction performance, whether you enjoy straight shots or milk-based drinks.

What are the best coffee beans for espresso?

It depends what you want from the shot. For a forgiving everyday espresso, Workhorse. For a traditional chocolatey flat white, Nova Espresso. For something fruit-forward and unusual, El Zumo. For a single origin, our Brazil is the easiest starting point. If you'd rather taste a few side by side, the Blend Selection gives you four 250g bags at 10% off.

Is a medium or dark roast better for espresso?

Medium and medium-dark roasts are more forgiving and give the classic chocolate-and-caramel espresso profile, especially with milk. Lighter roasts give more acidity and fruit but need a finer grind and a more temperature-stable machine. We roast in the medium to light range and list a roast level on every product page.

Can I use these espresso beans for filter or AeroPress brewing?

Yes! All of our coffees are versatile across all brew methods – including espresso, pour-over, AeroPress and cafetière. Our Espresso Coffee Beans are great for anyone wanting a well-developed, full-bodied filter coffee.

How fresh are your espresso coffee beans?

We roast all of our coffee to order in small batches on our eco-friendly Loring S35. Your beans will be freshly roasted and ideally rested for 5–14 days before use for optimal flavour and extraction.

Do you offer espresso blends and single origins?

Absolutely. This collection includes both our trusted espresso blends – like Workhorse – and single origin coffees that perform beautifully as espresso – like our Supernova and Brazil Single Origin.

Can I get espresso beans for a bean-to-cup machine?

Yes, and a medium-roast blend usually suits them best, since bean-to-cup grinders offer less adjustment than a standalone grinder. Workhorse and Nova Espresso are both good options and both come in 1kg and 2.5kg.

Do you provide grind options for espresso machines?

Yes! Simply select “Espresso Grind” at checkout and we’ll grind your beans to suit domestic espresso machines. However, for best results, we always recommend grinding fresh with a quality burr grinder as this will allow you to 'dial in' your espresso for the best results.

Do you sell espresso beans in 1kg or 2.5kg?

Most of our blends and several single origins are available in 1kg and 2.5kg. If you need larger volumes for a café or office, get in touch about wholesale.

Discover more about our coffee and espresso beans

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