The "espresso paradox" refers to the fact that while specialty coffee typically values beans grown at higher altitudes for their dense flavor, these characteristics are less important when it comes to espresso. This is because espresso is typically 8 to 10 times stronger and more concentrated than normal coffee, so it doesn't require as much acidity or floral character. In this sense, lower quality coffee can be used for espresso, which is contrary to the usual rules of specialty coffee.