Question 1

What is espresso?

Accepted Answer

Espresso is a specific way of brewing coffee: hot water is forced through roasted coffee grounds at high pressure, resulting in a thicker, richer flavour topped with a velvety crema.

Question 2

Where does the name espresso come from?

Accepted Answer

The term comes from the Italian for 'expressly' or 'made on demand'. It traces back to Angelo Moriondo’s 1884 patent for a steam-and-water coffee machine, and was commercially realised by Luigi Bezzera and Desiderio Pavoni at the 1906 Milan World Fair.

Question 3

What exactly is espresso?

Accepted Answer

Contrary to popular belief, espresso is not a bean type or roast but a brewing method where hot water under high pressure extracts coffee in a short time, producing a concentrated shot with full flavour and crema.

Question 4

What is a double espresso?

Accepted Answer

A double espresso is simply twice the volume of a standard espresso shot, offering a more intense coffee serve.

Question 5

What is espresso ristretto?

Accepted Answer

An espresso ristretto uses the same amount of coffee as a standard shot but half the water, yielding a shorter, more concentrated extract.

Question 6

What is espresso lungo?

Accepted Answer

An espresso lungo uses the same coffee grounds as a standard shot but pulls twice the amount of water, resulting in a longer, milder drink.

Question 7

What does an espresso coffee taste like?

Accepted Answer

Espresso offers a multi-sensory experience: the aroma can be smoky, spicy, chocolatey, fruity or floral, the taste should feel balanced, and a lingering aftertaste reveals the coffee’s origin and roast characteristics.

Question 8

What does a good shot of espresso look like?

Accepted Answer

A well-pulled shot transitions from a dark reddish-brown (ristretto) to caramel, then to blonde; it should settle with a fine golden crema atop a rich, dark body.

Question 9

How many mls are there in a shot of espresso?

Accepted Answer

A standard espresso shot from a Nespresso machine is 40 ml.

Question 10

How to make espresso coffee at home?

Accepted Answer

Insert a Nespresso capsule into your machine, place your cup on the drip tray, then press the Espresso button (Original) or the extraction button (Vertuo) to brew.

Question 11

What else to say about espresso?

Accepted Answer

With its rich history, distinctive taste profile and simple home preparation, espresso invites you to explore and enjoy every shot—ready to ‘espress’ yourself.