Italian Espresso Coffee Beans?

Espresso coffee is Italian in origin and dates back to around 1900.

It is the base from which all specialty coffees are made. Espresso machine operators are known as “baristas,” which in Italian means “bartender.”

A common misconception is that there is such a thing as the espresso bean. Don’t listen to the marketing hoopla; there is no such thing as the espresso bean! Any coffee bean or roasting level can be made into good espresso coffee.

How to make espresso

To make espresso coffee, not-quite-boiling-hot water is forced under high pressure through 7-10 grams of finely ground coffee to produce 1 to 1.5 fluid ounces of the delicious, syrupy beverage. The concentration of chemicals and flavours allows it to become the base for other drinks, such as lattes, cappuccinos, macchiatos, Americanos and mochas.

For instance, cappuccino is made with espresso and milk that is brought to a foaming boil using a gush of steam. It is traditionally, one-third espresso, one-third steamed milk and one-third microfoam. Upon request, cappuccino is topped with cocoa, cinnamon or cardamom.

Espresso powder or “instant” espresso is brewed espresso that has been dehydrated. Aside from being used as a beverage, espresso powder can help bring out the chocolate flavour in many desserts — such as brownies, cakes, pies and the French dessert, pot de creme.

History of Espresso

In 1901, Luigi Bezzera patented the first steam-driven espresso machine. He called it the Tipo Gigante. Then in 1905, Desidero Pavoni bought Bezzera’s patent and the Pavoni Company began manufacturing espresso machines based on the Bezzera style machine. These mass-produced machines were similar to today’s mocha-style brewers.

However, the problem with steam technology is that by forcing water through coffee that is close or near to the boil, beans can become burnt, resulting in a more bitter taste. Not surprisingly, many espresso connoisseurs stay away from today’s steam-powered stovetop espresso machines known as mocha pots.

illy Espresso

In 1935, Francesco Illy invented the illetta, the first automatic coffee machine. Instead of steam, it used mechanized water dosing and a jet of compressed air to raise the pressure — the predecessor of all espresso machines.

Illy also devised a patented pressurized system that extracts air from the can, replacing it with inert gases at higher-than-atmospheric pressure levels.

illycaffè S.p.A. is now a large international company that employs around 600 people and sells coffee-related products around the globe.

A technological breakthrough occurred when Signor Cremonesi patented a piston pump in 1938, which, when a horizontal lever was turned, forced hot water through the coffee.

Gaggia Espresso Machine

Meanwhile, Achille Gaggia, a Milanese barman, was experimenting with similar technology. In 1938, Gaggia applied for a patent for a piston lever machine to use in his coffee bar. The Gaggia company was formed in 1948 and the industry was revolutionized with the Crema Caffe machine. The greatly increased pressure and proper water temperature, produced espresso in its modern form — rich in taste, aromatic, and topped with the telltale dark reddish-brown foam known as crema.

Gaggia first manufactured espresso machines for commercial use, but since 1977, they have also produced machines for domestic use. The Saeco International Group purchased the Gaggia brand in 1999.

Yet another espresso innovation occurred in 1961, when Faema released the E61, a machine that delivered pressurized water through the coffee by way of an electric pump. Faema thus acquired significant market share in the espresso machine industry.

Not surprisingly, Italian espresso machines are still widely considered to be some of the best espresso machines available today.

These days, there are a great many espresso machines on the market, ranging from simple manual equipment to highly automated machines. All of them can be classified as either steam- or pump-driven technology.

Okay, all this has made me weary. Make mine a triple Ily espresso, please!