|
Did you know? |
If you think about espresso, you probably think about small bistros that offer great little snacks and excellent coffee. You probably think that espresso is a fairly new invention that is available to almost everyone around the world.
In a way, you are correct, espresso as we know it today was not perfected until after World War two when Achille Gaggia created the first spring level espresso machine that produced crema, which is the important foam that is found on the top of every espresso. However, espresso can be traced back to 1901.
Espresso is an Italian creation. The word itself means fast and that is the essence of what the coffee drink is. During 1901, a coffee machine was created by Luigi Bezzera that forced steam and boiling water through coffee. This machine created a quick coffee that was full of flavor.
Unfortunately, the original machine also created a burnt flavor and the espresso produced was not the rich medley of flavor that the drink is today. Still, the coffee caught on and people began to improve on the machine that Bezzera created.
The first person to improve the design was Desiderio Pavoni. His machine was so popular that it found its way from Italy to the United States. In fact, the first espresso machine in the US arrived in 1927.
After that, it became a quest to find better ways to improve the coffee machine. Achille Gaggia improved it significantly but it wasn’t until M. Faema created an electric pump that the espresso became what it is today.
It is often surprising to realize that espresso has such a long history. It is a drink that is quick to make and quick to drink. It is the express of coffees and we often think of things like that as having a short history. We think of espresso as a drink to be enjoyed and nothing more.
But not on this site, here we understand how wonderful espresso is and we enjoy spending our time talking about espresso, the machines that make it great, the cups that provide a flourish to it and the many different sides of espresso.
If you love espresso as much as we do, it is time that you come and take a seat. We have lots to talk about.
Jan 25 2009
Waverly’s Coffee and Espresso is a newly opened coffee shop in Tuscon, Arizona. They’ve been open less than a year, but already getting some great reviews. The shop is located at 5775 East Broadway Blvd, near Park Place.
Unlike most independent coffee places, they have a handy drive-through as well. They open early, but close fairly [...]
Jan 25 2009
Even with the best espresso makers, there are always a few extra tips you can learn to improve your brewing technique.
The most important tip would be to get a good machine in the first place. Don’t skimp and buy one of the super cheap steam machines. They will make an acceptable espresso, but it won’t [...]
Jan 25 2009
As most people know, espresso is a wonderful Italian creation and although there is great espresso and espresso machines made all over the world, the best quality does come from Italy.
Of course, you can’t actually get imported espresso since it’s something you make fresh. But that doesn’t mean you can’t add a little Italy into [...]
Jan 25 2009
So you’ve decided to start making your own espresso at home? Considering the prices of some gourmet espresso drinks at a coffeeshop, it’s a smart idea to look into doing it yourself. And thankfully, it’s easy to make espresso. Providing you have the right coffee and machine to work with.
Step 1: The Coffee
Make sure you [...]
Jan 25 2009
Though stopping at the local coffee-house on the way to work may be your regular routine, you could save yourself some money by making your own espresso at home. There are many good home espresso machines available that won’t cost you a fortune.
Even if you are pretty familiar with using your regular drip coffee maker, [...]
Jan 25 2009
A love of chocolate often accompanies a love of good espresso, and with a bar of Ghirardelli Intense Dark Espresso Escape, you can thoroughly indulge both.
Though sweet and mild milk chocolate may be a favorite for some, there is something to be said for that deep flavor you only find in a very dark chocolate.
The [...]
Jan 25 2009
Fine espresso is nearly synonymous with Italy, and espresso machines are just the same. Italian espresso machines are almost always considered to be very high-quality, and their price tags usually reflect that. While some companies do offer less expensive models, they are not usually designed for the beginner.
One particular company with a world-class line of [...]
Jan 25 2009
One of the great things about espresso is that its the base for a number of super popular coffee drinks these days. You can make macchiatos, lattes, or cappuccinos as long as you know the right ratios of milk and espresso. Once you know a few basic espresso recipes, you can turn your kitchen into [...]
Jan 25 2009
You can buy instant coffee, but is there instant espresso? Though it is far less common and can be hard to find, you can buy instant espresso powder. It looks a lot like instant coffee, but the crystals are much finer. It’s usually called espresso “powder” though it may also be sold in granular form [...]
Jan 25 2009
Getting a machine for brewing espresso right at home is now as common as getting a regular coffee machine. And just like with coffee makers, there are plenty of models, styles and options to choose from.
For a good quality home espresso coffee maker, go with one with an internal electric pump for creating the water [...]
So you’ve decided to start making your own espresso at home? Considering the prices of some gourmet espresso drinks at a coffeeshop, it’s a smart idea to look into doing it yourself. And thankfully, it’s easy to make espresso. Providing you have the right coffee and machine to work with.
Step 1: The Coffee
Make sure you [...]
Though stopping at the local coffee-house on the way to work may be your regular routine, you could save yourself some money by making your own espresso at home. There are many good home espresso machines available that won’t cost you a fortune.
Even if you are pretty familiar with using your regular drip coffee maker, [...]
These days, you can buy some really fine espresso machines for the home, but there are still many models that rank up there as “commercial”.
The most noticeable difference between a commercial espresso machine and one designed for home use, is size. An average home espresso maker will have only one group (that’s the name for [...]
With so many espresso machine models, styles and choices, it can be hard to know what you should be looking for when out to get the best espresso machine you can.
There are simple espresso machines, and then there are some with more bells and whistles than you’ll likely know what to do with. Don’t be [...]
Though espresso machines with all the latest bells and whistles are popular kitchen appliances these days, they are not your only option for home espresso brewing. Depending on how familiar you are with making espresso, you may not realize that there is a much simpler (and cheaper) kind of espresso machine.
It’s not even really a [...]
Espresso coffee machines are no longer the toys of the rich, as they can be found reasonably priced in nearly any kitchen appliance store.
They run the gamut from inexpensive steam machines, to luxury gadgets with more options than you will know what to do with. Basically, there is something for anyone wanting to get into [...]
No matter how fancy or expensive your espresso maker is, you need to start off with good coffee beans if you want to make excellent espresso. Buying whole bean coffee is the way to go for freshness and taste.
Espresso beans aren’t any different from regular coffee beans, regardless of what coffee sellers might want you [...]
