Non-coffee drinker needs to know difference between espresso & coffee beans?

I've been sent on a mission to obtain fair trade espresso beans to send to my daughter in college. The store she told me to go to sells only fair trade items, but had only a variety of coffee beans, not espresso. A few people in the store said that the dark or french coffee beans could be used, it's just a matter of how they are ground?? I did purchase the coffee beans, but wanted to make sure this is correct before I ship them out??

Thanks!!