(Article originally in Italian)
 

Drinking espresso for Italians is a daily ritual that marks the time of day: they drink it in the early morning, after lunch, mid-afternoon and sometimes after dinner. So, who invented it and how did it evolve over time?

The culture of coffee spread throughout Europe as early as 1700. Cafés were meeting places reserved for the bourgeoisie and artists, in which to exchange ideas and socialize. At the time, however, there was still no trace of the espresso.

The most important magazine of Italian Enlightenment era was called "Caffè" because it simulated discussions in a café. Of the espresso, however, at the time, still no trace.

1890s - A NEW STAR IS BORN: THE ESPRESSO

At the end of the 19th century Angelo Moriondo patents the first steam powered coffee machine in Turin. The machine was able to optimize the coffee extraction time, preparing and serving the coffee in record time. Hence the name "espresso".

Production, however, began a few years later, thanks to an agreement between the Milanese Luigi Bezzera and Desiderio Pavoni who in 1905 created "Ideale" and distributed it throughout Italy.

In 1910 the Victoria Arduino, a large pioneer company in the sector, also started production.
 

Ideale

1930s - THE RIsE OF ESPRESSO IN A CUP

In the first post-war period, the number of public places that served espresso grew exponentially, as did its consumption. It was often served at the table, in a cup. To satisfy the growing demand for coffee machines, in 1930 Giuseppe Cimbali started his first production and created "La Rapida". 
 

La Rapida

1950s - HELLO CREAM IN A CUP! ESPRESSO BECOMES A CULT

In the early 50s, after World War II, a great technological revolution took place: the lever was invented. An innovation capable of pumping hot water at high pressure onto coffee powder. Coffee is now no longer burned by steam and its aromas can be extracted. Thanks to the lever (the result of the genius of Achille Gaggia and Officine Faema) it is possible to obtain the typical cream of the espresso that we are so used to. The espresso becomes a real daily ritual, to which is almost impossible to resist.
 

1960s / 1970s - FROM ARTISANAL MACHINE TO A SERIAL PRODUCT OF DESIGN

Between the '60s and '70s, the era of well-being, development and industrialization, coffee machines are transformed into real mass-produced design objects: famous architects and designers are involved, and they experiment with colours, forms and materials, as in La Pitagora by La Cimbali.  
 

La Pitagora

1980s / 1990s - THE "MADE IN ITALY" ESPRESSO CONQUERS THE WORLD

Between the '80s and '90s, Italian espresso machines became a symbol of Italian coffee culture all over the world. Combining clean and elegant style, minimal design and cutting-edge technology that also allows for precise amounts of coffee to be dispensed.  

With the advent of the new millennium, espresso is now no longer consumed only in bars, but also in airports, railway stations, bookshops and boutiques.

A community of aficionados, baristas and coffee specialists, increasingly attentive to the quality of the coffee served and to its origin, starts to emerge.

Coffee machines are becoming more and more technological and user-friendly, to meet the needs of specialized baristas and increasingly demanding customers.
   

M100 di La Cimbali

Eager to learn more and see for yourself the machines that have made the history of espresso? At Mumac, the la cimbali coffee museum, you can visit the world's largest exhibition of professional espresso machines: 200 pieces and 100 machines! VISIT www.mumac.it for more information and opening times.

La Cimbali will be at The Milan Coffee Festival with a series of activities at The Espresso Bar.