Espresso is one of the most popular drinks in the world. People from all walks of life, from soccer moms to businessmen, enjoy a cup or two of espresso each day. But what many people don’t know is that espresso has an interesting history filled with twists and turns. So let’s take a look at the timeline of how this beloved drink came to be.
The Start of It All: The Invention of the Espresso Machine
Espresso was invented in 1884 by Angelo Moriondo, an Italian who received a patent for his invention—a steam-driven “instantaneous” coffee-brewing machine. The machine created a concentrated form of coffee that was quickly enjoyed by locals in Turin, Italy where it was first introduced. While this machine ushered in a new era for coffee drinkers, it wasn’t until 1901 when Luigi Bezzera made significant improvements to the original design and patented improvements to the original design that resulted in what we know as espresso today.
The Rise and Popularization of Espresso Machines
In 1903 Desidero Pavoni purchased Bezzera’s patent and founded La Pavoni—a company devoted exclusively to manufacturing espresso machines for commercial use. This helped propel espresso into the global spotlight as it began appearing in cafes around Europe and beyond. La Pavoni’s first machines were lever machines which had to be manually operated by pulling down on a lever connected to a piston inside the boiler which forced hot water through ground coffee at high pressure producing an extract similar to what we now recognize as espresso.
The Technological Advancements That Led To Modern Day Espresso Machines
In 1961 Achille Gaggia perfected the use of spring-piston driven machines, replacing previous lever designs with pistons powered by springs instead—a feature still used today in most home and semi-professional machines today. In 1974 Faema released their E61 model which incorporated several features still used on modern day commercial machines including simultaneous steaming and brewing capabilities which allowed baristas to pull shots faster than ever before while also heating milk simultaneously for cappuccinos, lattes etc… This marked another milestone in both home and commercial espresso production as these features are found on virtually all modern day fully automatic commercial machines today.
As you can see, over time there have been numerous technological advancements that have led us to modern day espresso production—something that so many people rely on daily for their morning pick me up. From its humble beginnings in 1884 to its current state today, espresso has come a long way and continues to evolve every year with new technology coming out all the time. Whether you love your daily shot or just enjoy sipping on an occasional latte, there is no denying that without these advancements throughout history we would not be able to enjoy our favorite coffees drinks today. For more information about how your favorite beverage came about be sure check out our other blog posts here at [company name]. Thanks for reading.
Oh, there are so many options for an espresso machine at home. We have a super basic, everything being on the user and we have a fully automated machine. Here is one that is half way between, De’Longhi Stilosa Manual Espresso Machine, Latte & Cappuccino Maker, Milk Frother Steam Wand (15 Bar Pump Pressure). Please note that if you purchase from clicking on the link, I will get a tiny bit of that sale to help keep this site going.
