Espresso Refers To A Type Of Coffee Brewing Method, Not The Bean

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 example of an espresso machine in 1884.
• 1901 – Luigi Bezzera and Desidero Pavoni work together to create an improved version of the 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 huge boost to the growth in popularity of this coffee beverage.
• 1920s -An espresso marketing campaign began when Pier Arduino promoted the drinking of espresso by 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 important advancement in espresso technology
• 1971 – In Pike Place Market, Seattle, Washington, a coffee shop that would change the way the world sees coffee opens. 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.
• Coffee contains more caffeine than espresso. Strong-tasting coffee has no more caffeine than weak-tasting coffee.
• Espresso is not referring to a particular type of bean, it is a type of coffee brewing method.
• Coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world second to only 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.
• Espresso is regulated by the Italian government 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 there is only 0.6% fat in filtered coffee. This is derived from the natural oils contained in the coffee beans.
• Espresso is used as a base for a lot of other coffee drinks, including, mochas, lattes, and cappuccinos!
• The ideal brewing temperature for a shot of espresso is 190-195 degrees Fahrenheit.
• The size of an espresso cup matters for a variety of reasons. The perfect size cup for a shot of espresso is 2 ounces, and that should only be filled 2/3 of the way full. Porcelain is the best bet for cup material, and warming the cup beforehand will help make the perfect drink.
• Espresso was invented so workers drinking espresso would 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.
• The ideal time for pulling a single shot of espresso is 25-30 seconds

Sources:

National Day Calendar

Foodimentary

Mobile-Cuisine

National Coffee

Tchibo-Coffee

Coffee-Statistics

Just Fun Facts

Days of the Year

National Today