Espresso is the word borrowed from Italian to refer to coffee brewed by forcing hot water through finely ground usually darkly roasted coffee beans. In Italian this word was probably coined to mean "coffee made on the spot at the customer's request," to distinguish espresso from coffee brewed in a pot.
Considering all those italiano inventors, it's no surprise that the word espresso comes from… Italian! Espresso is the past participle of the verb esprimere, which means 'press out'. This verb stems from the Latin exprimere, which means 'press out' or 'squeeze out.
Expresso is a spelling variant of espresso. The French spell the word this way, but in America, it originated as a misspelling. It is such a common mistake in spoken English that many speakers don't recognize it as nonstandard. Indeed, some dictionaries even list it as an alternative spelling.
From an etymological perspective, however, the initial Italian naming of this first espresso beverage likely derives from the Latin word “exprimo,” a verb meaning to “squeeze out.”
WHAT MAKES ESPRESSO DIFFERENT FROM COFFEE? Espresso is thicker and more intense than coffee because of the lower grounds to water ratio, the finer grind, and the pressurized brewing method. Regular coffee uses a coarser grind, more water and gravity to extract the final brew.
Espresso is a concentrate; coffee is diluted
In addition to being brewed by the force of considerable pressure, espresso is also brewed as a concentrate, meaning there is less water and more coffee flavor material (along with other compounds) in the finished beverage.
Espresso is a concentrated form of coffee, served in shots. It's made of two ingredients - finely ground, 100% coffee, and hot water.
For the Italians, however, it doesn't have to be sparkling as long as it is mineral water. The minerals contained in the water cleanse our palate and stimulate the taste buds before the first sip of espresso, which is a sensually saturated and intense drink.
Water is used to cleanse the palate and fully enjoy the aromatic properties of espresso. Furthermore, when drunk after coffee, the water performs the opposite task: it cleans the mouth from the bad taste left by a poor quality coffee or with some errors in preparation.
This explains why many cultures, such as the Italians, may prefer espresso after dinner. A quick shot of moderate amounts of caffeine can fight off the heavy feeling that follows a large meal, while quickly drinking it allows it to wear off in the hours between dinner and bed.
Short Black. The short black is the foundation of any espresso drink. The term 'short' refers to the fact that this is simply an espresso shot, no extra water is added apart from what is used to brew the coffee. Black of course comes from the colour of the drink due to the fact that there is no milk added.
A latte is made by pulling the perfect shot of espresso and then topping with steamed milk.
Finland — 12 kg/26 lbs — Finland is the world's biggest consumer of coffee on a per-person basis. The average Finn drinks nearly four cups a day. Coffee is so popular in Finland that two 10-minute coffee breaks are legally mandated for Finnish workers.
Origin of the espresso
As with many famous coffee recipes, the espresso was invented in Italy, around 100 years ago, and is credited to a man by the name of Luigi Bezzera, from Milan. He was the first to use a steam-pressure method of brewing coffee, which produced a strong cup of coffee faster than ever before.
While it's a common misconception that Espresso beans are different that Drip beans, in actuality they are equal. Any coffee bean can be used with any brewing device. In fact, the only thing that makes an espresso an espresso is that it was brewed using an espresso machine.
In France, un café, which may also be called un petit café, un café simple, un café noir, un petit noir, un café express, or un express, is an espresso: a tiny cup of strong black coffee. That's what the French drink, so that's what the simple word café refers to.
While it may seem strange to some, the custom of not ordering a cappuccino after 11am in Italy is rooted in tradition and the belief that the drink is best suited for the morning. It's a cultural norm that has been passed down through generations, but as with any culture, things are changing and evolving with time.
And, although subject to slight misconception, Italians have been adding milk to their espresso since the 17th century, when the stimulating effects of coffee were required but without the bitter taste.
STIRRING ESPRESSO IS ALL ABOUT AROMA
Stirring releases the wonderful aromas of an espresso shot, which enhances your perception of its flavours. Scent and taste are closely tied together, so inhaling the aromas of espresso before and whilst sipping it offers a more acute sensory experience.
Yes, you do have to pay for water. (You can ask for “acqua dal rubinetto,” tap water, but it's often seen as a bit rude.
The first is regional variation in the taste of tap water across Italy. “Visitors arriving in cities or coastal regions will no doubt find the taste of the water a lot less pleasant. Hence waiters' concerned expressions, warnings, and insistance on bringing bottled water in many areas of the country.
After midday Italians drink their coffee black and will happily continue drinking into the evening. Later in the day, they may well add a slug of grappa or other liquor to their espresso to create a caffè corretto, but they would never consider adding milk.
Espresso also has antioxidants and caffeine, which aid metabolism and help boost mood. Espresso is not inherently healthier than regular coffee, but drinkers can skip out on excess sweeteners and sugars often added in other coffee drinks since it can be enjoyed as is.
Black coffee is essentially brewed coffee from coffee grounds or instant coffee. It does not contain any added ingredients such as milk, creamer, sugar, or condensed milk. People usually call it black coffee rather than just coffee because plain coffee without add-ons are dark and look almost black in color.
Many people think espresso and coffee are two distinct beverages, but they're actually just different brewing methods. Both types of drinks have similar benefits, although light- to medium-roasted coffee has a slight edge over espresso for supporting heart health, cognitive health, metabolic health, and more.