Espresso Was Invented So Workers Could Spend Less Time On Their Coffee Breaks.

Get the pure coffee essence on National Espresso Day! Whether you sip one cup or keep buzzing all day long, November 23rd is the day.

• 1884 – Angelo Moriondo is credited with the earliest known espresso machine.
• 1901 – Luigi Bezzera and Desidero Pavoni collaborate to develop an improved espresso machine.
• 1903 – Pavoni buys out Bezzera and starts his company, La Pavoni.
• 1906 – Espresso debuts at the World’s Fair in Milan, Italy. A massive boost to the growth in popularity of this coffee beverage.
• 1920s – An espresso marketing campaign began when Pier Arduino promoted the consumption of espresso among well-dressed men and women of society.
• 1927 – The first espresso machine was installed in the United States. It was a “La Pavoni” machine and was installed at Reggio’s in New York.
• 1938 – To avoid the burnt taste created by the steam machine, Cremonesi created a piston pump machine that didn’t taint the flavor of the coffee. However, because of World War II, the machines didn’t progress for a decade or so.
• 1947 – After the war, the piston machines pick up where they left off and Achille Gaggia patents his own. Some patrons complained that the top of the coffee contained a bit of film or foam (even calling it “scum”). In a clever move, Gaggie refers to this as “crema” which eventually becomes a selling point for his machines.
• 1961 – Ernesto Valente invents an espresso machine that is easier for baristas to use and is probably the most critical advancement in espresso technology
• 1971 – In Pike Place Market, Seattle, Washington, a coffee shop opens that would change the way the world sees coffee. It is the first Starbucks.
• 1984 – After a trip to Milan, where a company executive experiences the Italian coffee culture, Starbucks begins serving espresso drinks.
• 2015 – astronauts on the International Space Station can now brew fresh espresso on board.
• One shot of espresso requires 50 coffee beans.
• The ideal time for pulling a single shot of espresso is 25-30 seconds
• The perfect brewing temperature for a shot of espresso is 190-195 degrees Fahrenheit. Coffee contains more caffeine than espresso. Strong-tasting coffee has no more caffeine than weak-tasting coffee.
• Espresso is not a particular type of bean; it is a coffee brewing method.
• Coffee is the second-most-traded commodity in the world, second only to oil.
• The origin of the term “espresso” is the subject of considerable debate. Although some Anglo-American dictionaries simply refer to “pressed-out”, “espresso,” much like the English word “express”, conveys the senses of “just for you” and “quickly,” which can be related to the method of espresso preparation.
• The Italian government regulates espresso because it is considered an essential part of daily life.
• “Crema” is the initial light/tawny-colored liquid that comes out during an espresso extraction.
• An espresso shot contains approximately 2.5% fat, while filtered coffee contains only 0.6% fat. This is derived from the natural oils contained in the coffee beans.
• Espresso is used as a base for many other coffee drinks, including mochas, lattes, and cappuccinos!
• The size of an espresso cup matters for several reasons. The perfect size cup for a shot of espresso is 2 ounces, and it should be filled only 2/3 of the way. Porcelain is the best choice for a cup, and warming it beforehand will help make the perfect drink.
• Espresso was invented so workers could spend less time on their coffee breaks.
• The act of producing a shot of espresso is often termed “pulling” a shot, originating from lever espresso machines, which require pulling down a handle attached to a spring-loaded piston, forcing hot water through the coffee at high pressure.

Sources:

National Day Calendar

Mobile-Cuisine

National Coffee

Tchibo-Coffee

Days of the Year

National Today

Editor’s Note: Since COVID, numerous websites once used for “Today Is” research have shut down. The information remains accurate, but some original sources no longer exist.