National Espresso Day Date in the current year: November 23, 2024

The word “espresso” refers to both a brewing method and a coffee beverage. Espresso is brewed by forcing nearly boiling water under high pressure through finely ground coffee. The first espresso machine was invented in the late 19th century.

In Italy, its country of origin, espresso became popular due to urbanization as espresso bars provided a place for socialization. In the United States, espresso grew in popularity in the 1980s.

Espresso is thicker than coffee brewed by other methods and has a more distinctive aroma because the pressurized brewing process leads to higher concentration of the chemicals and flavors in a typical cup of espresso. Espresso is always topped with a thin creamy foam called crema.

Espresso is usually associated with coffee shops because specialized equipment and skill are required to make a good espresso. However, due to its increasing popularity home espresso machines have become available.

Espresso can be served alone or used as the base for other coffee beverages, such as latte, cappuccino, mocha, or macchiato. To celebrate the National Espresso Day, indulge yourself with a cup of coffee!