From Boiling Pots to Pressure Shots
In pre-1900s Italy, coffee aficionados made Arabic-style coffee by boiling grounds in a pot (ibrik). The coffee was strong and flavorful—but took too long to prepare. With the Industrial Revolution leading more and more Italians into hectic urban lifestyles, waiting 5+ minutes for coffee wasn’t acceptable.
Luigi Bezzera invented the first espresso machine in 1901. It employed steam pressure and an open flame to extract a strong cup in under a minute—a momentous invention for busy cafes. Though it didn’t have the creamy crown we’re used to today, it did deliver one thing: quickness.
