What is espresso, and where did it come from?
The modern day espresso we drink today, a brief history
Modern day espresso is composed of very finely ground coffee beans that are compressed into an object called a portafilter that is placed into a machine that pumps highly pressurized water through the grounds. It has a strong, rich flavor, a thicker consitency than regular drip coffee and a signature crema — a creamy golden foam on top. This foam is formed from the CO2 gasses that get expunged from the grounds when that pressurized water is pushed through, often having a bitter taste.
Inventions that revolutionized espresso:
Espresso originated from Italy in the early 20th century. In 1901, the first espresso machine was patented by Luigi Bezzerra created for the sole purpose to brew coffee more quickly and efficiently. Over time, the technology improved, and in 1947, Achille Gaggia introduced the modern espresso machine with a lever-driven mechanism, which created the signature crema.
Before the modern pressurized system many are familiar with today, other methods were used to extract coffee such as the Neapolitan Flip Coffee Pot in the early 19th century. This was a traditional Italian coffee maker, similar to the French drip pot. Water was heated in the lower chamber, then the pot was flipped upside down to let gravity filter the water through the coffee grounds. The result was a smooth but less intense coffee compared to espresso.
Later down that same century, a device called a percolator started gaining traction. This device cycled boiling water through coffee grounds, however, percolated coffee tended to be over-extracted and was more bitter than espresso.
Moka Pot
Another device that is commonly used in households today is the moka pot. Though invented after the first espresso machines by Alfonso Bialetti in 1933, the Moka pot became a household favorite. It brews strong, concentrated coffee by forcing boiling water through coffee grounds using steam pressure, mimicking espresso but at a lower pressure.
Today, espresso has become the foundation for many popular coffee drinks, such as cappuccinos, lattes, and Americanos, and remains central to Italian coffee culture and cafes worldwide.
Want to know how much caffeine is in your drink? Read the informational post here.
