It’s slowly approaching that time of year again when a cup of hot espresso or cappuccino is sure to warm both your hands and your day. Whether you are a fan of a quick “espresso before leaving for work” or slowly enjoying a cappuccino with its delicious milk foam, espresso-based coffees are a part of your daily routine at any time of the day. Your favorite beverage is there for you to enjoy every morning and keep you company every evening.
So how did espresso and cappuccino become such an inseparable part of our lives?
Café-Espress since 1880
That’s when the need for café-espress was created, that is, fresh custom-made coffee.
How many times have you been in a hurry? The rhythms of everyday life were and continue to be fast. From the time people worked in the fields or the factory to today in department stores or offices, little has changed. The goal has been and continues to be the same: we all need a quick coffee before work.
In other words, the very existence of espresso is due to our impatience and the rapid and compelling pace of our lives. So it’s coffee that understands us and meets our needs every moment.
Espresso machines since 1822
☕ 1822: Edward Loysel de Santais creates his own machine which utilizes steam to force hot water through the coffee grounds. However, his machine proved to be dangerous and the coffee that resulted tasted bitter.
☕ 1884: Angelo Moriondo creates a machine with two boilers, one with water and one with steam forced through ground coffee which was the inspiration for the first successful machine.
☕ 1903: Italian inventor Luigi Bezzera creates a revolutionary espresso machine. The difference with the previous ones? The steam is at the top of the boiler and does not come into contact with the water at the bottom of the boiler. So the water is squeezed through by the steam and passes through the coffee, which due to the pressure is further extracted. The benefit? The brewing time dramatically reduces from 5 minutes to 30 seconds.
☕ 1938: Achille Gaggia, with his machine he is able to achieve a steady supply of coffee, and most importantly, the coffee reaches the cup with the characteristic espresso ‘tiger stripes’.
☕ 1961: Ernesto Valente introduces us to the Faema E61. With constant pressure without a valve, the water reaches the coffee at the ideal brewing temperature.
And so the espresso machines and grinding mill became an absolute must-have in Italy, France, Spain, and Latin America. And it is Italian immigrants that introduce espresso to the rest of the world.
Which coffees came from Café-Espress?
Naturally, espresso and then cappuccino, a breakthrough that has given us our favorite coffees and all of their variations, so we can enjoy them any way we want.
Espresso – A quick coffee ‘to go’
The result of a simple recipe: water and finely ground coffee beans. An intense beverage, not exceeding 30 ml, with a rich body and a golden color cream on its delectable surface. You can choose between a single – as the Italians drink it – or a double shot. Finally, it provides the base for so many other coffee drinks, such as Ristretto, Lungo, Americano and… with the addition of milk, Cappuccino, Macchiato, Flat White, Latte and many more!
Cappuccino – A cup of pure unadulterated enjoyment
The result of the harmonious balance of rich sweet milk and espresso, cappuccino is made with a dose of espresso and warm milky foam. Two serving options: Hot with the traditional white circle in the center or hot with latte art in the foamed milk. Its name? Is derived from the monks (capuchin friars) who wore brown robes with a white hood.
And don’t forget …
You can try the various varieties and blends at Coffee Island espresso bars to take away or for delivery, as well as try making your own favorite coffee, using beans from our coffee store.
