Coffee history

Espresso Perfetto Encyclopaedia

The History of Coffee and Espresso - From Ethiopia to Europe

Like every good story, the story of coffee begins with a legend and a lot of speculation. But it's definitely worth paying attention to the exciting journey through time that we want to take with you here! Learn all about the history of coffee and the impressive development of espresso preparation and its technological revolutions - enjoy!

How coffee spread in Europe

The history of coffee and espresso - From Ethiopia to Europe: According to legend, coffee was discovered by an Ethiopian shepherd in the Kaffa region. After seeing his herd of cattle eating red berries from a bush, he noticed that the animals became very active afterwards. Curious about the effect on himself, he prepared a drink from the berries and stayed awake as well.

According to another legend, that shepherd spat the inedible fruit into the fire, which released scents that gave him the idea to roast the seeds of the fruit.

The 11th century is the actual cradle of coffee: it reaches Arabia from Ethiopia and the etymology of its name goes back to the ancient Arabic word "Qahwah", meaning "the exciting". Via Mecca and Medina, coffee expands into the Arab Empire until it reaches Cairo.

As coffee grew in importance in Arabia, Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt and south-eastern Europe, the first coffee houses opened in Damascus and Aleppo in 1530 & 1532.

Venetian wholesalers also play a decisive role in the history of coffee: it is they who bring coffee to Europe and so the first coffee houses are also established here. From now on, it is only a small step to the globalisation of the coffee trade!

The first greenhouse cultivation of coffee trees succeeded as early as the end of the 17th century!

Brazil crystallised as the main coffee producer in the early 20th century. Nowadays, it is mainly Africa, Central and South America that make the running, but Indonesia is also strongly represented!

Espresso revolution - the portafilter changes everything

Our beloved little pick-me-up has an equally exciting development history behind it! What starts with a simple little espresso maker culminates in the sophisticated and ingenious technology of the Sieve makerwhich nowadays allows us to enjoy espresso on a completely new level even at home! Find out here how it all came about!

Coffee history

Espresso for the gastronomy

After its debut in 1855 at the World's Fair in Paris, it is official: the espresso machine revolutionises customer service and creates a completely new espresso aroma!

Due to the high steam pressure, the beverage can be produced much faster, but the control taps are still in need of optimisation, as they still make correct dosing considerably more difficult.

At that time, the machines were also extremely expensive and too heavy to be used in private households. Trained staff distribute the espresso in appropriate locations - and very successfully!

Bezzera makes history!

In 1901, the time had come: the Italian Luigi Bezzera had the first industrial espresso machines manufactured and patented. Consisting of a boiler and four brewing groups, the machine presses boiling water and steam at high pressure through the coffee powder in a Portafilter, with various valves allowing pressure regulation.

Only four years later, the newly founded coffee machine manufacturer La Pavoni acquires the patent and continues production according to the principle.

Image: © 2022 G. BEZZERA S.R.L.
Origin: http://www.bezzera.it/?p=storia&lang=de

The dawn of modernity: rethinking the espresso machine!

Indispensable to this day: The company "FAEMA"! Their E61 brew group is installed in many machines and was invented by Ernesto Valente in 1961. He optimised the Gaggia piston model by replacing the integrated spring with an electric rotary pump.

The espresso story continues

1935: The next step in the further development of the espresso machine is taken. The man of the hour is Francesco Illywho, with his "Illetta" model, not only introduces automated water dosing, but also separates the heat source from the pressure source. This separation solves a massive problem: from now on, the coffee is prevented from burning under the high temperatures.

The birth of the first automatic espresso machine that uses pure compressed air instead of steam!

But it was not until 1946 that an espresso with a typical "crema" could be thought of. Achille Gaggia develops a piston model that allows a pressure of eight to nine bar, which is necessary for optimal crema. This model is based on the idea of the Italian engineer Cremonesi from 1938. However, the circumstances of the Second World War prevented immediate production.

Image: © 2022 illycaffè S.p.A. | P.IVA 00055180327- Via Flavia 110, 34147 Trieste - Italy
Origin: https://www.illy.com/de-de/geschichte-illy-kaffee

And this is where the history of coffee takes us

The result of this long and complex history can be admired in our shop! In the meantime, several manufacturers have dedicated themselves to their love of coffee and espresso and expressed it with first-class portafilter machines. From ECM via Bezzera, Rocket, Quickmill and Lelit to La Marzocco - the choice is huge and that makes the coffee and espresso world diverse and exciting!

And where does your coffee journey end?

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