How Did Espresso Get its Name?

Espresso is coffee of Italian origin brewed by forcing boiling water under pressure through finely-ground coffee beans. Due to the pressurized brewing process, the flavours in a cup of espresso are very concentrated. It is also the base for other drinks, such as latte, cappuccino, mocha, and Americano.

Coffee has different names and spellings in each language. Espresso made its first appearance in Italy in the early 20th century although coffee was already a part of Italian life for centuries. The origin of the word ‘espresso’ came from the espresso machine. This name was given by two men, Luigi Bezzera & Desiderio Pavoni, who after years of tweaking their coffee making machine came up with a newer model in 1903. They called the coffee made with a newer machine - cafee espresso. Every year, National Espresso Day is celebrated on 23rd November when people across the world celebrate their love for this famous drink.

How to make Espresso with Espresso machine?

• Use fresh distilled water to fill the water reservoir.
• Turn on the espresso machine and make sure the boiler is hot.
• Use 7-9 gms of coffee beans for a cup of coffee.
• Grind the coffee beans finely.
• Dump the coffee grounds in the porta-filter and try to distribute them evenly in the filter basket. Lightly tap the portafilter to evenly distribute coffee grounds.
• Press the coffee grounds with about 30 pounds of pressure.
• Lock the portafilter on the brew head of the espresso machine and press the brew button.
• Extract the coffee for about 25 seconds. The time can be minimized to 5 seconds depending on how fine is coffee ground.

Health Benefits of Espresso:

• Drinking espresso helps strengthen long-term memory. It helps the brain retain stored and recall the stored information.
• Drinking espresso gives an instant boost of energy. It kicks the dopamine in the human brain and helps enhance concentration.
• Espresso is a package of a wide variety of antioxidants that reduces the risk of heart diseases and certain cancers.
• Drinking espresso boosts physical activity. A shot of espresso right before some physical activity can increase your performance. It gives adrenaline pumping that enhances strength and speed.
• Espresso is low in calories. Therefore, a shot of espresso can be both healthy and guilt-free.
• Being low in calories, espresso is a great tool for weight loss efforts.
• Due to its anti-inflammatory qualities, espresso keeps the drinker from feeling bloated and sick after a meal.
• With no sugar and cream, espresso can help reduce the risk of diabetes.
• The caffeine present in espresso is a powerful stimulant. It leaves the drinker feels energized all through the day.

Espresso Facts that Every Coffee Lover Should Know:

• The word ‘espresso’ in the Italian language means ‘when something is forced out.’
• Espresso is not a particular type of coffee bean or a roast, it is a drink.
• The fat in espresso is higher than in filter coffee.
• Espresso is regulated by the Italian government as it is considered an essential part of their daily life.
• Espresso machines use 132 pounds per square inch of pressure to extract coffee.
• One shot of espresso requires 50 coffee beans.
• To get perfect flavour, a cup of espresso should be stirred gently before sipping.
• Italians prefer a medium roast coffee over dark roast coffee to brew espresso.