Millions of people around the world drink a cup of espresso every day. But have you ever asked yourself, what is espresso coffee?

An espresso is a type of coffee beverage that millions of people take pleasure in across the globe. Whether you’re having yours on the top of the Eifel Tower in France or in a local coffee shop in NYC, the goal is to enjoy it to its fullest potential. If you’re familiar with caffeinated beverages, you may have noticed that an espresso is thicker than coffee, and that’s because of the different brewing methods used. Let’s see what espresso coffee really entails.

Variations

Many different cafes are able to create several variations of espressos by infusing the caffeinated beverage with different flavored syrups. A few of the popular flavors include caramel, chocolate, strawberry, hazelnut, and vanilla.  These variations are made the same way, only they’re infused with different flavors. Some cafes add whipped cream, soy milk, and a variation of spices to enhance the taste and create delicious, bold flavors.

Popularity

There are a lot of people around the world who enjoy the awesome taste of an espresso. Since the year 1980, the popularity of the beverage increased tremendously. Cafes around the world got their hands on the best recipes and they added a few personal things to make their types 100% genuine and absolutely delicious.

History & Background

Rumor has it that espresso originated in Italy during the start of the 20^th century. Some people are under the impression that the espresso came from the Arabian Peninsula.  A man by the name of Luigi Bezzera from Milan had the idea of making coffee using steam pressure. The name “espresso” derived from the method that allows an individual to make a cup of coffee quickly. In English, the term espresso means pressed coffee.

When the method was created, there were many advantages and one primary disadvantage. The disadvantage was that the steam made the beverage have an unpleasant burnt taste. Two people had a grand influence in this situation – Dr. Cremonese, who created a screw piston that allowed water to flow through coffee, and this occurred during the 1940s and Gaggia came along later in 1947 and he used the screw piston as a foundation to build upon and improve the method. Gaggia (You may recognize this name from the brand Gaggia) created the spring level piston, and although the extraction process was rather slow, the basic method and the use of coffee grounds were quicker.

There are many different types of coffee that can be used to make an awesome cup of espresso. In the southern areas of the world, a darker roast coffee is used, while in the northeastern areas, lighter roasts are preferred. If you’d like to make an espresso, there are a few steps you have to consider. You must purchase the beans, grind them with a grinder, use hot water at the right temperature, and add milk and sugar after your preference. With an espresso machine, things are lot easier and all you need is the coffee. The variety is endless on the market, and prior to settling on a type, perform a thorough research to make sure you’re making the best choice for your investment in a home espresso machine!