History of Italian Espresso

Italian Espresso is regarded as a celebration drink for the beginning of the day for Italians and people living in the central Europe. For them, it is not just about the strong aroma or the taste of coffee. Rather, espresso is an integral part of the Italian breakfast. Italian breakfast is considered incomplete without a freshly brewed cup of espresso.

Italian espresso has had a dynamic impact on social and technological invention, and its history is packed with the culture and identity of Italy. Italian coffee is not just a delicious and cherished drink; rather the Italian culture makes it a special and loved coffee around the world.

Although coffee culture has been around for a long time, most people are not aware of the origin and history of Italian espresso.

Initially, coffee was manufactured around Europe in a Turkish way. In the last decades of the 17th century, it first appeared in Austria, and later in the early 19th-century, espresso became famous around Europe.

A Brief History of Italian Espresso

Let's dig into the history of Italian espresso from the beginning to the modern day.

Early 1600’s

Coffee made its way across the world in the 1600s when its effects were discovered in Ethiopia. It was termed as 'caffe' in Italian, and the Ottoman Empire considered it an evil that provides energizing powers; therefore, they forbade coffee consumption.

The 17th century

During the start of the 17th century, Pope Clement VIII was pressured to declare consumption of coffee as sinful publicly to discourage the Italian citizens from cherishing their favorite coffees. However, Pope Clement VIII announced that "This Satan's drink is so delicious that it would be a pity to let the infidels have exclusive use of it." This statement gave a blessing prayer to the official beginning of Italian coffee culture.

The climax of the 17th century led several coffee houses to open that encouraged people to discuss art, ideas, and science while enjoying their coffee.

The 19th century

This century marked the most crucial developments in the history of Italian espresso.

• First Espresso Machine

In 1855, the first espresso machine was presented in France. Then in 1901, a Milanese engineer named Luigi Bezzera presented the first steam-powered coffee machine.

Desiderio Pavoni purchased Bezzera’s patent machine shortly after releasing the first espresso machine and then began its mass production. It had a significant impact on the coffee shops across Italy, and they started to create new drinks with the Italian espresso.

This new technique marked a striking difference in the history of espresso because it led to obtaining a concentrated, more aromatic, and creamy coffee.

• Advanced Models of Machine

Coffee enthusiasts in Italy recognized the value of ground coffee for making a great espresso. In 1920, Eureka grinders were developed by Aurelio Conti in Florence that became a standard in the coffee industry. Today, Eureka grinders are among strong and recognizable brands for making Italian espresso.

• Moka Pot

In the 1930s, a robust financial crisis struck the world, and most Italians were also facing a financial dilemma. Therefore, many Italians began to consider making coffee at home instead of the coffee houses in Milan and Venice.

Moka pot was an exciting at-home espresso machine that enabled Italians to adore their delicious caffes throughout the day. The at-home espresso machine became a simple and affordable way to enjoy breakfast or after-meal caffe in home comfort.

The Moka pot requires specific pressure specifications to make the espresso, and it led to a debate if it produces the perfect espresso. Today, many Italians love to drink a robust, strong, and aromatic brew from their Moka pots.

The coffee houses in the 19th century were peaceful and serene, but in 1935 they started attracting workers as the brewing industry grew. Later in 1938, the word 'barista' came forward; before that, 'barman' was a common term for the workers in espresso shops.

• Gaggia Espresso Machine

In 1938, a new espresso machine was developed by Achille Gaggia that gave a savory and soft layer of crema on the top of the espresso. The advanced machine-made espresso by applying high pressure on hot water on the ground coffee. Gaggia espresso machine created a delicious espresso in 15-20 seconds with a layer of crema on top.

Several renowned companies began to produce advanced models of espresso machines in the 1940s and 1950s to make them easily accessible for use to the general public. To date, when you can go to bars and enjoy the professional espresso, the domestic coffee makers are famous among people who love Italian espresso.

Globalization affected several trends and cultures, but the 1940s Italian coffee culture persists to date. In addition to the traditional and technical method of the machine, people could choose among their preferred coffee beans or ground coffee.

• Hand-pumped Machine

In 1947, Gaggia designed the hand-pumped machine that exerts more pressure on the puck to extract more colloids and oils from the coffee beans. The hand-pumped machine produced crema that is an essential component of the modern espresso.

Later in the year 1948, Ernesto Valente, head of Faema, bought Gaggia’s designed machine. But, Valente and Gaggia disagreed on the marketing strategy of the espresso hand-pump. Valente wanted to create cheaper machines, while Gaggia considered it a fancy luxury for particular purposes.

• Faema E61

Later in 1961, Valente released the world-renowned Faema E61 (the father of modern espresso) and was the first semi-automatic machine. It allows the users to manage the extraction parameters and changes from the vertical boiler to a horizontal one.

The 20th century

Luigi Bezzerra and Desiderio Pavoni invented the single-shot espresso in the early 20th century. Bezzerra made quite several improvements in the prior machines by introducing a portafilter and multiple brew heads. However, further improvements were required that led Bezzerra to design and build additional prototypes of the machine. Bezzerra consulted Pavoni to overcome the financial and marketing barriers to improve the espresso machine.

People in Italy and Europe pursue their love of Italian espresso and espresso-based drinks. The coffee culture is evolving, and the culture represents value, service, sociability, and affordability. The attempts made by the Italians to improve and develop the espresso texture and taste tell a lot about their commitment and pride towards Italian espresso.