Espresso
/ɛˈsprɛs.oʊ/noun
A concentrated coffee brewed by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee beans.
Did you know?Espresso comes from Italian espress(o), meaning “expressed” or “pressed out,” from Latin exprimere, and its name originally emphasized how it was made, not how fast it was served.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
exprimere
“to press out, squeeze out, or express”
Late Latin
Latin
expressus
“pressed out; made distinct”
Italian
Italian
espresso
“pressed out; expressed; later, coffee made on demand”
Early 20th Century
Italian
caffè espresso
“coffee made specifically for the customer by forcing water through grounds under pressure”
Modern English
English
espresso
“a concentrated coffee beverage brewed under pressure”