Espresso Powder - again

[swquilts]

The only thing I found was espresso "coffee" just like regular old Joe. Can I use this and just grind it more? I did find this in the regular coffee section.

This AM I checked the Mexican food section at one store and they didn't have it..... :(

[gertdog]

Susan, if you are really on a quest to find the stuff- I have found it at Sam's Italian Deli, 2415 N. First Street, in Fresno. That was 2 years ago but I'd bet they still have it.

When I have been unable to locate it, I've used instant coffee powder and used a bit more of it than the recipe calls for.

[sneezles]

I can't even find espresso coffee! I usally end up using double of instant regular!

[hAndyman]

It depends on what you're making, Susan. The espresso-ground beans will not dissolve in liquid, but I have used them in eg biscotti where you don't notice the texture but do get the coffee flavour. If buying whole beans it should be ground very finely (espresso grind) unless you don't mind the chewy bits of regular grind.
Cheers! Andy

[swquilts]

The stuff I bought is a Mexican coffee labeled "espresso". I haven't opened it yet, still hoping for the real thing :( . I'm making the Espresso Pots de Creme from the Feb Gourmet mag. I "think" the instructions say to pour through a sieve, so maybe this will solve any chunk problems. Or...I'll take this back and just use more of some regular instant coffee.

*sigh* The things we do for Valentines! :D

[ewatkins]

I get it all the time at our chain markets. It's in with all the other coffee -- just like instant coffee but it is expresso.

[Gilgamesh37]

Susan--I thought Medaglia d'Oro was nationally distributed, at least the instant powder (though I play hell finding the decaff grounds here in the midwest--have to have my mom mail it to me from CT)--the jars look like this:

http://www.thecoffee.com/images/medaglia/medagliainstantespresso.jpg

(just in case you're like me and can look right past something unless you know what the label looks like. I swore up and down to DBF 2 weeks ago that our local market didn't carry Frank's Hot Sauce. They do. I stood right there in the aisle and stared at the right shelf and just never saw it. :rolleyes: )

But for the future, anyway--if you can't find the Medaglia and you don't want to sub instant coffee, King Arthur sells instant espresso powder as well. As for the instant coffee, the substitution I've heard is double the amount, and then do something to make the grind smaller, either whizz it in a coffee grinder or bash the hell out of it (in a bag) with the bottom of a pan.

(edited because I can't spell, even when the name is right in front of me)

[hAndyman]

Susan, definately don't use anything but instant coffee - either espresso or regular. The coffee beans, even if espresso grind, will be gritty in this fabulous recipe - you need something that will dissolve in water. Sieving the mixture will not give you the creamy smooth custard you want. If you can't find "instant" espresso podwer, use double the amount of regular instant coffee.

Here's a link to the recipe, CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO POTS DE CREME, if anyone's interested (it does look fabulous):
http://www.epicurious.com/run/recipe/view?id=109140&kw=espresso+pots&action=filtersearch&filter=recipe-filter.hts&collection=Recipes&ResultTemplate=recipe-results.hts&queryType=and&keyword=espresso+pots

Cheers! Andy
PS: They would also look great with a single dark chocolate-covered coffee bean on each custard, but some people don't like to chew the coffee bean.

[badunnin]

If you have a Cost Plus World Market in your area, they carry it as well.

[HealthyinMN]

Originally posted by badunnin
If you have a Cost Plus World Market in your area, they carry it as well.

I agree! I've always found mine at World Market - not much luck anywhere else.

[cinnabun]

I brought this back up because I am also looking for espresso powder for a recipe I wanted to try (by the time I find it I will end up losing the recipe). Doesn't Starbucks make an espresso ground? Can this be used, I think you use it in the auto drip coffee makers. I seen it a long time ago in a store and don't really feel like paying $8-9 for it but if I can use this to make the recipe I guess it would be worth it.

[Beth]

Not the same. Espresso grounds are ground coffee beans and will still be gritty. Espresso powder is just the dried flavor -- like instant coffee, and won't leave grit. If you can't find it, use up to 2 times the amount of regular instant coffee.

[Sami]

I used up my instant espresso so I bought French Roast beans, and while I usually grind my coffee beans for 10 seconds, I ground these for 20 seconds and got a very fine powder. I used them in a KIng Arthur recipe called Lots of Bars and it worked perfectly. The coffee was added to the chocolate chip base and again to the topping. I will just drink the rest of the beans, after a normal grinding.

Sami