Ever watched a rich, dark espresso extracting and wondered, "Who do I have to thank for this miracle? Who invented espresso?"
Ever watched a rich, dark espresso extracting and wondered, “Who do I have to thank for this miracle? Who invented espresso?”
I’ll have you know that the espresso story is as rich and complex as the drink itself. And it’s this story that I want to tell you today.
Wanna know more? Settle down and read on as I wax lyrical on my favorite form of coffee – espresso!
Overview: What Is an Espresso?
I know today is all about who invented espresso. But first, what is espresso?
At its core, espresso is a concentrated coffee brewed under pressure. Hot water passes through finely ground coffee beans under intense pressure (about 9 bars or 9 times atmospheric pressure). This brewing process extracts the essence of coffee from the best espresso beans.
The result? Coffee art. This tiny, intense shot of coffee clocks in at roughly 1 ounce (30 milliliters) of liquid. It has a rich layer of crema, a gorgeous caramel-colored foam layer that adds to the coffee’s aroma and flavor.
What Does Espresso Mean?
The Italian word “espresso” tells us much about the drink. On ordering one, you’re literally asking for coffee that’s brewed and served in little more than the blink of an eye.
Espresso comes from the Italian word esprimere, which means “to express” or “to press out.” But there’s more to this nomenclature, with espresso meaning something made “expressly” (made to order) and served “express” (quickly).
Mind you, Italians will be quick to correct anyone who calls it “expresso.” There’s no “x” in the Italian alphabet, and certainly no “x” in this beloved coffee’s name!
A Brief History of Espresso
So, who invented espresso?
Well, espresso began its journey in 19th-century Italy. Then, Luigi Bezzera patented the first recognizable espresso machine in 1901. His innovation used steam pressure to force hot water through finely ground coffee beans – revolutionary for its time!
Later, Desiderio Pavoni purchased Bezzera’s patent in 1903. Together, they showcased caffè espresso at the 1906 Milan Fair. Coffee culture would never be the same.
But the defining moment for espresso came in 1938. Achille Gaggia developed a piston mechanism that created higher pressure without burning coffee. In essence, Gaggia produced the first espresso with coffee crema. This marked the birth of modern espresso.
Post-World War II, espresso bars became Italy’s social hub. However, the global espresso expansion began in earnest during the 1950s and 60s, when Italian immigrants brought their coffee traditions to new shores. In coffee bars everywhere, Italians taught people how to drink espresso.
Fast forward to the third coffee wave of the 1990s and early 2000s. During this time, espresso-based drinks became the foundation of a worldwide café culture. From Seattle to Sydney, and Tokyo to London, espresso transformed from an Italian convenience to a global obsession.
Today, espresso has evolved beyond its humble origins into a global art form. However, this coffee still maintains its Italian soul. Not bad for a drink invented to save a few minutes in the morning!
When Did Espresso Come to America?
Like the gods in the hit series “American Gods,” espresso’s story begins, as many great American stories do, with immigration.
Italian immigrants brought authentic espresso to Little Italy neighborhoods in cities like New York, Boston and San Francisco. However, it largely remained within these communities. Most Americans stuck to drip, considering espresso too exotic for their tastes.
The first breakthrough came in 1927. La Pavoni machines debuted at New York’s Reggio’s helping popularize the coffee. Later, returning GIs from Italy brought home an appreciation for strong coffee.
Still, the fundamental cultural shift happened during the 1950s Beatnik era. Espresso bars in San Francisco’s North Beach and New York’s Greenwich Village became counterculture havens. Artists and intellectuals (think Jackson Pollock and Andy Warhol) loved the stuff!
Then again, the true revolution began in Seattle when Starbucks opened in 1971. Schultz returned to America with a mission: bringing Italian coffee culture to the masses.
By the 1990s, Starbucks and others had introduced most Americans to espresso. Cappuccinos, lattes and yes, espresso shots were everywhere. What was once exotic became accessible, and America’s coffee landscape changed forever.
Today, you’ll find the best espresso machines in American homes, indie coffee shops and drive-thru windows. But the American espresso has a twist. We’ve supersized it, sweetened it (vanilla this, caramel that) and turned it into an everyday commodity.
Is it authentic Italian? No, but that’s the beauty of cultural exchange. In America, espresso found a unique identity while still honoring its Italian soul.
So, Who Invented Espresso?
Where did espresso originate? And why was espresso invented?
Espresso is a product of 19th-century Italian coffee culture. The industrial revolution was booming, and workers needed caffeine fix, but nobody had time for slow-brewed coffee.
Enter Luigi Bezzera, a Milanese businessman who, like many, was probably tired of waiting for his morning cup. In 1901, he patented the first recognizable espresso machine.
His breakthrough wasn’t just about speed. It was also about forcing pressurized hot water through finely ground coffee beans. And that pressure? It’s where the magic of espresso brewing happened.
So, exactly when was espresso invented? I’d say between 1884-1906. Angelo Moriondo invented the first espresso machine in 1884. But Bezzerra and Desiderio Pavoni showcased the first espresso, or caffè espresso. They used their “Ideale” machine at the Milan World Fair in 1906.
Who Invented the Espresso Coffee Machine?
I cannot discuss who invented espresso without discussing who invented the espresso machine. Espresso machine history credits Angelo Moriondo who patented his first machine in 1884.
Moriondo’s invention, patented as “new steam machinery for the economic and instantaneous confection of coffee beverage,” was a bulk brewing machine. It leveraged both steam, pressure and speed to extract multiple servings of coffee.
Before that, coffee brewing was hella slow. Frenchman Louis Bernard Rabaut developed a steam-powered coffee machine in 1822. It laid important groundwork for later innovations.
However, the development of modern espresso machines began with Luigi Bezzera in 1901. His innovations featured components that are still with us today. Such as portafilters and brew heads. These machines could also pressure-brew multiple servings of coffee, but more efficiently.
In 1903, Desiderio Pavoni purchased Bezzera’s patent. He produced espresso machines on an industrial scale under the La Pavoni brand name. His machines helped popularize espresso across Italy and beyond.
How Do Italians Make Espresso at Home?
Despite Italy being the birthplace of espresso, many Italians don’t brew espresso at home per se. The centerpiece of almost every Italian home is the beloved moka pot or caffettiera, invented by Alfonso Bialetti in 1933.
This coffee maker became as essential to Italian households as olive oil. Simple yet brilliant, it works by passing steam-pressurized boiling water through ground coffee. What results is something between American drip-brewed and machine espresso coffee.
What you won’t find in most Italian homes? Espresso machines with all the bells and whistles. Simple, potent, moka pot coffee is what Italians prefer for everyday home consumption.
Final Thoughts
It’s wild to think that without Moriondo, Bezzera and Pavoni, we might still be waiting ages for our morning caffeine fix. No delicious caramel macchiatos. No creamy lattes with fancy latte art. No espresso martinis for Friday night. The horror!
But the mainstay of my story isn’t just about who invented espresso as a coffee. It’s also about espresso, a century-old tradition that continues bringing people together.
So, here’s to espresso – the delicious Italian coffee legacy that keeps us caffeinated! Have you had yours today?
What’s your favorite way to enjoy this Italian gift to humanity? Tell me why you love espresso and what your favorite way to drink this brew is in our comments section below!
Espresso Origins FAQ
Luigi Bezzera and Desiderio Pavoni showcased the first espresso, “caffè espresso,” at the World Fair in Milan, Italy, in 1906.
Angelo Moriondo founded espresso coffee by creating the first espresso machine in 1884. Luigi Bezzera improved on this machine in 1901. Later, in 1903, Desiderio Pavoni commercialized Bezzera’s machine. They showcased the first espresso or “caffè espresso” with it at the Milan World Fair in 1906.
Espresso originated in early 20th-century Italy, specifically in Milan. It was a method to brew coffee quickly by pushing 9-bar steam pressure through finely ground coffee beans.
No, although they contributed significantly to its evolution. Louis Bernard Rabaut developed a precursor to the espresso machine in 1822 and Henri-Otto Mayer and Jacques-Victor Delforge patented an immersion-brewer, the French press in 1852.
