Last Updated on October 12, 2022 by Timothy Byron Smith
Waiting in line at Starbucks right before heading to the office can be frustrating. But this wait can turn out to be worthwhile if you’ve got the perfect coffee to help you start your day. This is why we’ve cherry-picked the crème de la crème from the Starbucks menu for you to try out.
Keep reading if you want to learn more about what is Blonde Espresso and how you can make it at home!
The Starbucks Blonde Espresso has been trending for all the right reasons. Launched in pre-COVID times, Starbucks has been providing the blonde espresso drink since 2018.
If you’re ‘adulting’ in 2022, you’ve probably seen a lot and by now, chances are nothing can surprise you anymore. But a blonde espresso shot that isn’t harsh on your taste buds and can instantly lighten your mood, will amaze you. So without any further ado, we’ll get right to the goods.
What is Blonde Espresso?
Contrary to the usual Starbucks espresso, the blonde espresso is a beverage made with slightly roasted coffee beans. Its lighter and smoother taste and texture are perfect for people who enjoy the less intense features of coffee.
What Color is Blonde Espresso?
As the name suggests, the blonde espresso has a lighter brown color as compared to that of the dark brown espresso. This gives the aforementioned a creamy and appealing look.
What Does Blonde Espresso Taste Like?
Now, if you’ve had the Starbucks original espresso, you’d know the bitter and roasty taste it has, giving it a bold feature. However, the Blonde Espresso is softer and sweeter on the taste buds with a less acidic element to it.
Difference Between Espresso And Blonde Espresso?
Unlike the very strong espresso, blonde espresso tastes subtler and sweeter. The usual espresso has a dark and shiny color. On the contrary, with slightly roasted beans, the blonde espresso caffeine is light-toned with a matte look.
The blonde espresso beans are also roasted for a lesser period of time at lower temperatures whereas the usual espresso beans are roasted for longer.
As surprising as it may sound, the Starbucks blonde espresso has more caffeine per shot as compared to the caffeine content in normal espresso.
Is Blonde Espresso Stronger than Regular Espresso?
By the subtle looks and processing of the blonde Espresso, one might mistake the regular espresso to pack a stronger punch. However, the state is contrary, with the former having more caffeine per shot. Thus making the blonde espresso roast stronger.
What Makes Blonde Espresso Roast Stronger?
To answer this question, you’d need to understand the origin of the blonde espresso beans. The Starbucks espresso beans are darker and are collected from areas of Latin America and the Asian Pacific, contributing to the dark brown color.
On the other hand, the blonde espresso beans are lighter in color and picked from Latin America and East Africa. These beans are stronger as they are packed with more caffeine.
You might not want to confuse the color of the beverage with the intensity of the espresso caffeine content.
Starbucks’ Blonde Espresso: What You Need to Know
If you’ve been swept by Starbucks’ trending Blonde Espresso, you better know all there is to know about it. We at EspressoCoffeeTime have cataloged all the helpful information for you below.
1. How is the Blonde Espresso brewed?
Just like the existing espresso, the roasted blonde espresso beans are finely crushed. Subsequently, they are mixed at high pressure by forcing in hot water. A good quality espresso machine will allow you to conveniently brew your espresso in no time.
2. Where do the beans come from?
You’d probably be unaware of the fact that the usual Starbucks espresso and the blonde espresso beans are drawn from different areas.
The dark beans of the original espresso are grown in Latin America and the Asian Pacific while the blonde espresso beans are grown in East Africa and Latin America.
3. How are the shots pulled?
At Starbucks, espresso shots come as 3 types: regular, long shot and risteretto, which determine the amount of caffeine in each shot.
You can go for a regular shot, the commonly pulled. For a more bitter-tasting shot, you’d want to pull a long shot that has more water in the caffeine content.
Our personal favorite and the one that goes best with the blonde espresso is the ristretto shot. Pulled in quicker with less water content, the ristretto blonde espresso has a mellower taste. This type of shot also works best with other creamier forms of coffee.
How to Make Blonde Espresso at Home?
Living in a time where you’ve witnessed a global lockdown, it’s pretty obvious you’d no longer depend on Starbucks for your supply of coffee. It’s 2022 and you’d be curious how to brew your own blonde espresso drink at home. In case you’re looking for a quick guide, we’ve got you covered.
We’ve compiled a list of must-dos and the must-haves for you to make your blonde espresso.
1. Necessary Ingredients to Make Blonde Espresso at Home
Before you can get right into the action, you’ll need to make sure you have all the prerequisites to make your perfectly brewed blonde espresso.
- First thing’s first, you’ll need blonde espresso roast beans that will give you that Starbucks taste.
- The next obvious ingredient is water. We highly recommend the use of filtered water to brew your coffee.
2. Required Equipment to Make Blonde Espresso at Home
Making the Starbucks Blonde Espresso at home is an elite experience. But before you have the barista-fun, you’d need to make sure you have the right equipment.
Investing in a semi-automatic or super-automatic espresso machine can help you make a genuine blonde espresso. Not only will you grind your roasted beans but will also dispense hot water at the right pressure if you know exactly how to use an espresso machine to pull a great espresso shot.
The recommended espresso machine comes with an array of features that will help you set up a mini Starbucks in your kitchen. However, if you’re not planning to invest in an espresso machine right now, you can check out our guide on how to make espresso at home without an espresso machine. Though, you’ll need an espresso grinder to perfectly grind the beans.
3. Steps to Make Blonde Espresso at Home: Instructions Manual
We’ve winnowed down easy instructions for you to make the perfect blonde espresso at home.
- Grind a spoonful of coffee beans
- Add the ground coffee beans to the portafilter of your preheated espresso machine.
- Tamp the ground coffee to make it flat
- Ensure the pressure is rightly adjusted as will be shown on your machine.
- Finally, pull your first shot that will take approximately 30 seconds.
- Make sure to sip the first shot and make any necessary adjustments as per your taste.
4. Expert Tips for Making Blonde Espresso at Home for the Taste
In order to make your barista experience even more worthwhile, we’ve thrown in some expert tips.
- To replicate the Starbucks taste, you’d want to add vanilla syrup and almond milk.
- Make sure to finely grind the blonde espresso roast beans which can often be hard to crush due to their density.
- In order to enjoy your espresso on the run, you should stock up on blonde espresso k cups. These recyclable cups will allow you to enjoy your caffeine dose even if you’re running late.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Calories Does Blonde Espresso Have?
At Starbucks, a single shot of blonde espresso has 5 calories and zero sugar. If compared with a regular Starbucks espresso shot, it has the same amount of calories per serving.
Is Blonde Roast the Same as Cinnamon Roast?
Formerly, people have confused the two because of the similar color of the beans and their short period of roasting. However, Starbucks coined the term blonde roast when they realized the public confused cinnamon roast with something to do with flavor.
Is Blonde Espresso Healthy?
Yes. with a higher level of antioxidants and zero sugar, the Starbucks Blonde Espresso has been acclaimed as a healthy beverage.
Final Words
I think I have thoroughly addressed your question “what is blonde espresso?”. Now you know all there is to possibly know about Starbucks’ trending addition. The Blonde Espresso is a breath of fresh air for those who’ve been looking for alternatives for their morning coffee. To make this experience even worthwhile, you need to learn how to drink espresso like an Italian pro.
The lightly roasted beans, derived from East Africa and Latin America, give the blonde espresso a light brown color with a creamy and matte look.
We’re sure with our guide, you won’t have to wait in line at Starbucks and can quickly whip up a cup of this ideal drink in the comfort of your home.
