Where Did Espresso Come From?
The pungent aroma of fresh espresso has been captivating the senses of coffee lovers for over 100 years. The first espresso machine was invented by a man named Angelo Moriondo; the year was 1884 and Italy drank its first cup of espresso. Seventeen years later, Luigi Bezzera made some improvements to Moriondo's design and then sold the patents to a man named Desiderio Pavoni in Milan, whose name adorns countless espresso machines even today. More than likely you have seen these espresso machines in some of the coffee shops you may frequent and you just now realized this!
Espresso crossed the water dramatically in the 1950's, hitting the British youth who were happy to adopt coffee houses as their meeting places instead of pubs. The latte was invented in California, sometime in the 1950's, by another Italian called Lino Meiorin. These long cappuccinos traveled northward and were quickly snatched up by a little Seattle-based company called Starbucks. The rest, they say, is history. After all, who has not enjoyed a hot latte in the last couple of days? Or even tasted coffee ice cream atleast once in their lifetime?
Espresso can be enjoyed anywhere, from street corner shops to the up-market cafes and coffee houses that dot themselves about urban areas. It seems that now coffee culture is defined by the hour of the day: Seven am is the white shirt and long tie business rush. Late afternoon marks the student hours where laptops pair with espresso-based drinks on cafe tables. When the lights lower, the late night intellectual crowd settles in on leather sofas to read books and repeat quotations.
The question of what exactly is espresso comes up often for many non-coffee drinkers. What is is exactly and why all the interest in this dark drink? Despite the mysteriousness that surrounds some coffee subcultures, espresso is in itself, elegantly simple. Pressurized water forced through finely ground coffee beans creates a short shot of concentrated liquid that glows with a rich crema when drawn to perfection. Because espresso only denotes the brewing method, any coffee bean can be used for an authentic espresso; different beans and roasts deliver different flavors to the coffee that is made. Presentation can vary as well as taste with this beverage.
So, how do you enjoy your espresso? The most popular way is as an added shot to a cup of coffee. Espresso can aslo be enjoyed straight, the traditional way, or can be used as the base for lattes, cappuccinos, mochas, macchiatos and americanos. Modern coffee houses have even expanded the use of espresso in cold and blended drinks, making this little shot highly versatile and equally delightful.
In today's coffee houses espresso is the focus of any coffee lover! Unlike 30 or more years ago where coffee was pretty much just a cup of joe, coffee lovers can now walk down the street and enjoy a coffee beverage that uses espresso as its main ingredient. When ordering your next coffee drink take a long look at how the espresso is made and then take in the aroma that will immediately follow the pulling of the espresso. We think you will be glad you did!
Espresso crossed the water dramatically in the 1950's, hitting the British youth who were happy to adopt coffee houses as their meeting places instead of pubs. The latte was invented in California, sometime in the 1950's, by another Italian called Lino Meiorin. These long cappuccinos traveled northward and were quickly snatched up by a little Seattle-based company called Starbucks. The rest, they say, is history. After all, who has not enjoyed a hot latte in the last couple of days? Or even tasted coffee ice cream atleast once in their lifetime?
Espresso can be enjoyed anywhere, from street corner shops to the up-market cafes and coffee houses that dot themselves about urban areas. It seems that now coffee culture is defined by the hour of the day: Seven am is the white shirt and long tie business rush. Late afternoon marks the student hours where laptops pair with espresso-based drinks on cafe tables. When the lights lower, the late night intellectual crowd settles in on leather sofas to read books and repeat quotations.
The question of what exactly is espresso comes up often for many non-coffee drinkers. What is is exactly and why all the interest in this dark drink? Despite the mysteriousness that surrounds some coffee subcultures, espresso is in itself, elegantly simple. Pressurized water forced through finely ground coffee beans creates a short shot of concentrated liquid that glows with a rich crema when drawn to perfection. Because espresso only denotes the brewing method, any coffee bean can be used for an authentic espresso; different beans and roasts deliver different flavors to the coffee that is made. Presentation can vary as well as taste with this beverage.
So, how do you enjoy your espresso? The most popular way is as an added shot to a cup of coffee. Espresso can aslo be enjoyed straight, the traditional way, or can be used as the base for lattes, cappuccinos, mochas, macchiatos and americanos. Modern coffee houses have even expanded the use of espresso in cold and blended drinks, making this little shot highly versatile and equally delightful.
In today's coffee houses espresso is the focus of any coffee lover! Unlike 30 or more years ago where coffee was pretty much just a cup of joe, coffee lovers can now walk down the street and enjoy a coffee beverage that uses espresso as its main ingredient. When ordering your next coffee drink take a long look at how the espresso is made and then take in the aroma that will immediately follow the pulling of the espresso. We think you will be glad you did!
About the Author:
Dave Lashier writes Espresso Machine Reviews for such machines as Mr Coffee Espresso Machine. Please visit EspressoMachineReviews.biz to find detailed product reviews!