ESPRESSO TIMELINE

Espresso originated in Italy. In fact, the word espresso is the Italian word for fast. Espresso is a drink that results from forcing water through finely ground coffee resulting in a full extraction of coffee flavor. This result was not always easy to attain, however, as espresso machines have come a long way since their beginning.

Espresso, as we know it today, originated at the beginning of the twentieth century. In 1901, Luigi Bezzera built a coffee machine that had a boiler and four divisions. This machine forced steam and boiling water through coffee and into the cup. This machine is considered the beginning of espresso.

In 1903, Bezzera’s patent was purchased by Desiderio Pavoni, and in 1905 the Pavoni Company started to manufacture machines based on Bezzera’s patent. The “La Pavona” machines became very popular, reaching the United States in 1927.

These early machines had their flaws. The steam and boiling water that were forced through the machine gave the coffee a burnt flavor. So, in 1938, Cremonesi developed a piston pump that forced hot water through the coffee rather than boiling water. This design was used in Achille Gaggia's coffee bar. World War II hindered any further development of espresso machines, as a bomb destroyed Gaggia’s small quantity of machines.

After the war, however, Gaggia started manufacturing a commercial piston pump. This machine was innovative for its use of a spring lever. This spring lever was able to apply pressure to coffee that was completely independent of the boiler. The earlier machines forced the water through the coffee through the force of the boiler pressure. The coffee produced from this machine featured a creama—the hallmark of espresso. This was the beginning of the espresso machine as we know it today.

An improvement of Gaggia’s machine was made in 1961 by M. Faema. Faema created a machine with an electric pump that forced water through the coffee. This machine marks the beginning of the pump-driven machines from which all modern espresso machines are derived from.

Source: Passion for Coffee

ESPRESSO TIMELINE

1901

Luigi Bezzera files a patent for machine that contained a boiler and four "groups". Each group could take varying sized filters that contained the coffee. Boiling water and steam were forced through the coffee and into the cup. Ambrogio Fumagelli claims that this was the birth of espresso coffee.

1903

Bezzera's patent was purchased by Desiderio Pavoni.

1905

The Pavoni company begins manufacturing machines based on the Bezzera patent.

1927

First espresso machine installed in the USA. A "La Pavoni" machine at Reggio's in New York. (Still there on display)

Cafe Reggio's Pavoni

1938

Earlier espresso machines forced steam through the coffee, causing a burnt flavor. In 1938 Cremonesi developed a piston pump that forced hot (but not boiling) water through the coffee. It is first installed at Achille Gaggia's coffee bar but World War II prevented further development at that time.

1946

Gaggia begins manufacturing a commercial piston machine. The resulting coffee has a layer of foam or crema.

1961

Faema launches a pump based machine. Instead of a hand operated piston the water is forced through the coffee by an electric pump. Water is taken from the fresh water supply and travels through a tube that is passed through the boiler and then through the coffee. This allows the water to be at the optimal temperature (~200F), filtered and not have to stay in the boiler for a long period. Almost all modern restaurant machines are essentially this design.

Modern innovations continue in the design of espresso machines. Many of these innovations are designed to produce a consistent product irrespective of the operator.

Some changes are simple, such as precise metering of the amount of water passed through the coffee. Earlier designs were based on the operator deciding when to stop the flow.

Other developments include "fully automatic" machines that grind the beans, froth the milk and deliver a complete cup, all with the touch of a button.

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