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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
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Jan 25 2009
What makes a good espresso is how you make it, but starting out with the right beans certainly helps. Basically, espresso is made with the same coffee beans you would use for your regular coffee. By brewing it under pressure, that’s what makes espresso unique and so famously strong. So don’t feel you have to [...]
Jan 25 2009
Delonghi is a familiar name among coffee and espresso aficionados, because they make great equipment at reasonable prices. There are around a dozen espresso machine models made by Delonghi, and they range from inexpensive steam models to the luxurious super-automatic varieties. They pretty much have something for everyone, at any budget. Part of their espresso [...]
Jan 25 2009
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 [...]
