Espresso is coffee.
It is a brewing method that produces a more concentrated amount of coffee in a much shorter brew time than drip coffee. Hot water is forced through fine grounds, under high pressure, typically using a machine. It is often served in small cups and with a layer of crema on top (a golden foam).
In comparison, coffee is typically brewed with hot water poured over ground beans. Water drips through the grounds by gravity – no pressure is applied.
The most common method of brewing coffee in America is often called ‘drip coffee’, as it relies upon gravity for extraction.