Ever imagine what Starbucks would be like if it didn’t have an espresso machine? The famous coffee spot just wouldn’t seem the same. So, where did this machine originate from and who do we thank for this convenience of “foam” coffee? An espresso is nothing more then coffee that is brewed by mixing hot water with ground up coffee beans. Believe it or not, the coffee espresso machine has been in existence for almost 100 years.

There are stories that the machine was developed in Italy; this is definitely not the case. The first coffee espresso machine was developed in France in 1822. Mr. Louis Bernard Rabaut had an idea to brew coffee quickly by passing pressurized steam and water through a filter lined with ground coffee beans. In 1855, Mr. Edward Loy Sel de Santias brought his advancement of the espresso machine to the Paris Exposition. While entertaining the crowds at the Exposition he was able to brew 2,000 cups of this foam coffee in one hour.

Luiggi Bezzera of Italy brought his espresso machine into the lime light in 1901. His machine served the same purpose of Rabauts invention which was created 79 years earlier.

Desiderio Pavoni purchased the patent for this new invention in 1903 and began making this contraption through his company in 1905. Americans received their first taste of this foam coffee in 1927. Americans were not impressed with the burnt flavor the machine gave to the coffee beans. In 1938, the taste problem of the espresso was fixed by adding a piston pump to the design. The pressure the spring lever applied to the beans changed the taste to a more enjoyable taste that we all enjoy now.

The final advancement to the espresso machine emerged in 1961. M. Faema created the electric pump as an addition to the original design. This pump advanced the evolution of the espresso machine. In 1991 the first espresso machine was created for in home use; thus enhancing the acessiblity level to use this incredible machine in the comfort of your own home.

The next time that you get that good old cup of of espresso or cappuccino in the morning just take a second and reminisce. Try to envision the pioneers whose inventions paved the way to make a simple cup of caf latte possible. It’s hard to think about all the hard work and effort that is put into one simple cup of coffee.

So much hard work and labor was put into such a deceptively simple contraption that so many take for granted. In this fast paced world that we live in it’s great that we don’t have to wait 10-15 minutes to get a hot cup of coffee. In fact we can enjoy the luxury of a cappuccino right from our own households. The machine does all the work for us, all we have to do is push a single button.

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