Espresso

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /É›kˈspɹɛsəʊ/, /ɛˈspɹɛsəʊ/
• GenAm IPA: /É›kˈspɹɛsoÊŠ/, /ɛˈspɹɛsoÊŠ/

Origin

From Italian espresso, from caffè espresso ("pressed-out coffee"), form of esprimere ("to press out"), from Latin exprimere, from ex- ("out") + primere ("to press").

Online Etymology Dictionary

Some sources derive the term from “expressly (‘individually, directly’) made for the customer”,

Merriam Webster Online

or as “fast” (Italian espresso also meaning “fast”, as in English express ("fast")) but these are not widely credited.

The original term for modern espresso (coffee extracted under pressure) was cream coffee, from Italian caffè crema (variant: crema caffè), due to the crema, and was seen on early Gaggia machines, but this term is no longer used.

Morris, Jonathan (2007), The Cappuccino Conquests. The Transnational History of Italian Coffee, website, summary

Full definition of espresso

Noun

1. A concentrated coffee beverage brewed by forcing hot water under high pressure through finely ground coffee.
2. A drink that includes espresso as an ingredient.

Related terms

• espresso breve