wow - thanks - I JUST read a blog about that exact stain! It SOUNDS fairly easy.......but being a skeptic, I'm a bit leery. I' thinking of trying it on the back side of a cabinet and giving it a test........... tsp, hadn't thought of that, great idea. Thanks!

No problem! I work at home hardware and deal with a lot people wanting to do lots of projects like these.
Testing on the back is a good idea! Different stains look different on different kinds of wood.
Not sure where your from but where I'm at, you can't find the general finishes stains anywhere. There us a couple places you can order it online. You could also try a minwax wood stain in jacobean. It's the espresso in the minwax brand. But I would definitely recommend a gel stain. It seems to work better and a lot goes a long way!
Good luck!

OMG...I am looking to do the same thing same color too. I too have ugly OAK cabinets and want to change to espresso. If you can email me at qtbern1@yahoo.com I'm in ohio.

What is tsp?

TSP is a type of cleaner and you need to be VERY careful with it.

tsp - tri sodium phosphate - any hardware store should carry it

I should clean the cabinets first with this and then sand them? Should I sand with a sander?

I found this blog: http://www.monicawantsit.com/2012/02/staining-oak-cabinets-espresso-color.html
She has explicit instructions - one of them being "don't over think it"..........

qtbern: I just sent you an email w/ the blog address above!

Clean with tsp before sanding. There is other products more safe than tsp. at home hardware we have a product called safe prep. It's a tsp substitute. Whichever brand you choose, make sure it's fully dry before sanding.
Once sanding, sand by hand using a sponge sander. I wouldn't recommend using an electric sander cuz you may sand to much. If there is a clear coating finish on what your staining, sand it off with a medium course sponge sander then briefly go over it with a fine sponge sander. Benchmark has some good hand sponge sanders. Once your done sanding, wipe off the residue with a damp cloth. Let it dry then stain. A good thing to remember for whatever your painting from walls, floors to furniture type things, make sure your surface is clean, dry and dull for best adhesion!

Very little / no sanding with General Finishes. Java is the hot item and works great. Some use a sock or foam brush. I'm using short quality brush with light coats. Working great.