Espresso is a coffee drink made by forcing hot water under high pressure through ground coffee beans.
Regular coffee is brewed by pouring boiling water over ground coffee beans. This process yields a tamer, less bold cup of coffee.
There are many taste differences between espresso and drip-brewed coffee.
Espresso has a more intense flavor, while drip-brewed coffee tastes mellower with less acidity.
Similarities
You can make espresso and coffee out of the exact same beans — the differences lie in how the beans are roasted, ground, and brewed.
Differences
Espresso beans are simply a coffee bean that's roasted more, ground finer, and brewed in an espresso machine.