Espresso (Italian) is a flavourful coffee beverage brewed by forcing very hot, but not boiling, water under high pressure through coffee that has been ground to a consistency between extremely fine and powder. It was invented and has undergone development in Italy since the beginning of the 20th century, but up until the mid 1940s it was a beverage produced solely with steam pressure. The invention of the spring piston lever machine and its subsequent commercial success changed espresso into the beverage we know of today, produced with between 9 and 10 atmospheres, or bars, of pressure.

The qualitative definition of espresso includes a thicker consistency than drip coffee, a higher amount of dissolved solids than drip coffee per relative volume, and a serving size that is usually measured in shots. Espresso is chemically complex and volatile, with many of its chemical components degrading from oxidation or loss of temperature. A distinguishing factor of properly brewed espresso is the presence of crema, a reddish-brown foam which floats on the surface of the espresso. It is composed of vegetable oils, proteins and sugars. Crema has elements of both emulsion and foam colloid.

As a result of the high-pressure brewing process, all of the flavors and chemicals in a typical cup of coffee are concentrated. Some people prefer a single or double shot instead of one or two cups of coffee to get a quick shot of caffeine. Also, because of its intense and highly concentrated ingredients (including caffeine) espresso lends itself to mixing into other coffee based drinks, such as lattes, cappuccinos, macchiatos, and mochas, without the need to overly dilute the resulting drink.

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I want espresso. This means taking my dad's car. . . I hate driving that car. I WANT MY JEEP FIXED.
saraharant (Sarah Arant) Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:10:18 -0000
I want espresso. This means taking my dad's car. . . I hate driving that car. I WANT MY JEEP FIXED.
I need more coffee if I'm going to get through the day. Off to the espresso machine! Please Caffeine, give me the strength to get through.
cjgraphix (Collin Robinson) Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:09:37 -0000
I need more coffee if I'm going to get through the day. Off to the espresso machine! Please Caffeine, give me the strength to get through.
@suzanneyada Haha, very good. I'm glad you didn't mention the type of espresso or name of café - that would have been way too opinionated.
benteka (Bente Kalsnes) Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:07:53 -0000
@suzanneyada Haha, very good. I'm glad you didn't mention the type of espresso or name of café - that would have been way too opinionated.
*yawn*.. you know the rest (espresso.. biscotti.. and and and).. ;-)
bikerbar (Michael @BikerBar) Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:06:10 -0000
*yawn*.. you know the rest (espresso.. biscotti.. and and and).. ;-)
lol my sim drank espresso and got the jitters. I am lolin
KirstenStanfill (Kirsten Stanfill) Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:05:07 -0000
lol my sim drank espresso and got the jitters. I am lolin
espresso, make me feel alive!
tglavin (Trevor Glavin) Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:04:35 -0000
espresso, make me feel alive!

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