This week I put the Europa espresso blend from Brewing Market in our second grinder. I have had Brewing Market's espresso in their store, but from what I understand, they use a different blend in-house than the one I bought. I didn't care for the one I had at their place (though, as I've said before, I really like their drip coffees). So I bought the other espresso blend, which is supposed to be lighter, hoping it would taste better through my equipment.
After talking it over with the guy behind the bean counter, who seemed to know some about their roasting equipment, coffees and blends, I purchased a pound of the Europa Blend. He assured me that it was fresh, telling me that they rotate their stock every couple days.
The pull on my La Marzocco lacked the creaminess that I like to see in an espresso, and the crema was a little light-colored. I was a tad worried about staleness, because the beans lacked the aroma you'd expect from a fresh coffee, and they had the spot of oil that the Italians call a "tear." To me, the "tear" means one of two things (or both). You've caused pain to the coffee in the roaster and it is now crying because it is burnt. Or it has been out of the roaster long enough that the oil is starting to escape the bean walls, and has gone "stale."
As a straight shot, the espresso had very little aroma but the first overwhelming taste was very very nutty. After the nuttiness, it fades into a cardboard-tasting, stalish, flat, sort-of green taste.
So I made it into an americano. Same really. Josh said it tasted like Folgers. That's not a very good endorsement. I think it's because the coffee is very light roasted, stale, and maybe doesn't have a good base coffee in the blend.
Anyway, still not thrilled with Brewing Market's espresso. But I love their drip coffees!