Category: Espresso

Espresso was invented in the early 20th century in Italy, with the first machines appearing around 1901. Compared to coffee’s long history, that’s pretty recent. In Italy, people often drink espresso standing at the bar in just a few sips—it’s more of a quick ritual than a long sit-down experience.

Espresso is a strong, concentrated coffee brewed by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee under high pressure. A single shot of espresso has about 60–80 mg of caffeine, while a regular cup of drip coffee often has 90–150 mg. Espresso just tastes stronger because it’s concentrated. Espresso requires a very fine grind—almost like powdered sugar. Too coarse or too fine, and the shot will taste either weak or bitter.

Cappuccino is a coffee drink made with Espresso, steamed milk, and a layer of milk foam. It is known for its balanced coffee and milk flavor. Unlike a latte, cappuccino foam is thicker and drier. Cappuccinos are one of the main canvases for latte art—those leaf (rosetta), heart, and tulip patterns you see are made by pouring steamed milk into espresso just right.

Modern cappuccinos only became possible after espresso machines were invented in the early 1900s. Before that, the drink didn’t exist in its current form. In Italy, ordering a cappuccino after about 11 a.m. is considered unusual. Locals typically switch to straight espresso later in the day. “Cappuccino” is inspired by the robes of Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (Capuchin monks). The drink’s color—a mix of espresso and milk—resembled their brown robes with lighter hoods.