33/256), probably the first Italian coffee machine similar to other French and English 1800s steam-driven coffee machines. History Īngelo Moriondo, from Turin, is often erroneously credited for inventing the beverage, since he patented a steam-driven coffee beverage making device in 1884 (No. Farther north, the trend moves toward slightly lighter roasts, while outside Italy a wide range is popular. For example, in southern Italy, a darker roast is generally preferred. Any bean or roasting level can be used to produce authentic espresso. It is not a specific bean, bean blend, or roast level. The technical parameters outlined by the Italian Espresso National Institute for making a "certified Italian espresso" are: ParameterĢ5 ± 2.5 ml (0.88 ± 0.09 imp fl oz 0.85 ± 0.08 US fl oz)Įspresso is both a coffee beverage and a brewing method. Crema is produced when water, placed under very high pressure, dissolves more carbon dioxide, a gas present inside the coffee that is produced during the roasting process. It consists of emulsified oils in the ground coffee turned into a colloid, which does not occur in other brewing methods. The "crema" is a layer of dense foam that forms on top of the drink. This process produces a thicker beverage by extracting both solid and dissolved components. Tamping down the coffee promotes the water's even penetration through the grounds. However, it is more common for an electric pump to generate the pressure. The act of producing a shot of espresso is often called "pulling" a shot, originating from lever espresso machines, with which a barista pulls down a handle attached to a spring-loaded piston, which forces hot water through the coffee at high pressure. Generally, one uses an espresso machine to make espresso. There is no universal standard defining the process of extracting espresso, but several published definitions attempt to constrain the amount and type of ground coffee used, the temperature and pressure of the water, and the rate of extraction. Įspresso is the base for various coffee drinks, including caffè latte, cappuccino, caffè macchiato, caffè mocha, flat white, and caffè Americano.Įspresso is made by forcing very hot water under high pressure through finely ground compacted coffee. This preserves the strong coffee flavor present in the espresso. These oil droplets preserve some of the aromatic compounds that are lost to the air in other coffee forms. This characteristic of espresso contributes to what is known as the body of the beverage. The dispersion of very small oil droplets is perceived in the mouth as creamy. The second phase is suspended solids, while the third is the layer of gas bubbles or foam. The first dispersed phase is an emulsion of oil droplets. The three dispersed phases in espresso are what make this beverage unique. The actual caffeine content of any coffee drink varies by size, bean origin, roast method and other factors, but a typical 28 grams (1 ounce) serving of espresso usually contains 64.5 milligrams of caffeine, whereas a typical serving of drip coffee usually contains 150 to 200 mg. Espresso has more caffeine per unit volume than most coffee beverages, but because the usual serving size is much smaller, the total caffeine content is less than a mug of standard brewed coffee. As a result of the pressurized brewing process, the flavors and chemicals in a typical cup of espresso are very concentrated. This is due to the higher concentration of suspended and dissolved solids, and the crema on top (a foam with a creamy consistency).
It is also popular in Switzerland, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, and in Australia.Įspresso is generally thicker than coffee brewed by other methods, with a viscosity similar to that of warm honey.
Espresso is the most common way of making coffee in southern Europe, especially in Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal. Espresso coffee can be made with a wide variety of coffee beans and roast degrees. A cup of espresso from Ventimiglia, ItalyĮspresso ( / ɛ ˈ s p r ɛ s oʊ/ ( listen), Italian: ) is a coffee-brewing method of Italian origin, in which a small amount of nearly boiling water (about 90 ☌ or 190 ☏) is forced under 9–10 bars (900–1,000 kPa 130–150 psi) of pressure through finely-ground coffee beans.