The History of Espresso Coffee Makers

Espresso coffee makers came into existence from man’s need for a faster cup of coffee. The espresso machines not only produced the coffee faster but also produced a better one. Initially in some machines they found some kinks to be worked out but the coffee maker inventors didn’t let little issues deter them.

Who invented the first espresso coffee machine?

Each record gives us different answers. Some record says, the first espresso coffee maker was invented by Louis Bernard Babaut in 1822 along with Edward Santais, who was the marketer of machine in 1843. It got the publicity in 1855 at the Universal Exposition in Paris.

According to the records, in an hour a coffee maker can produce one thousand cups of espresso coffee using steam to force water through coffee held in the filter. Every new invention has to bear risk and this espresso coffee maker was not an exception. It had a tendency to blow from time to time and sometimes it burned the coffee too.

The initial espresso coffee makers weren’t so easy to use. Operating them required some degree of skill and it left plenty of room for diversity. The intensity of the heat & the length of time were controlled by the operator and the water valve remained open. The coffee users could put in less coffee grounds & obtain strong coffee or use more water & get a diluted one.

Further records credit Luigi Bezzera, a manufacturer, with the invention of Espresso in 1903. Bezzera wanted to make coffee faster, so he added more pressure due to which ‘Voila’ the Fast Coffee Machine was born. This machine made coffee faster and better than any other machine. The machine invented by Bezzera used the force of steam to push water through a fixed filter containing coffee.

Even though Bezzera was skilled in inventing, he was lacking in the marketing talent to promote his creation. In 1905, Desidero Pavoni purchased the rights of the espresso machine and the product was successfully marketed, changing the way everyone drank coffee. The coffee makers were sold throughout Europe by Pavoni.

Franceso Illy created the first automatic espresso coffee maker. In 1935, Illeta invented the coffee maker and used compressed air instead of steam for his machine. The problem of exploding espresso coffee makers was solved by this machine & gave a more stable result.

The espresso coffee maker invented by Achille's Gaggia bears his name in 1945. The lever action was included in his invention and even today we can get the modern versions of both Illeta and Gaggia espresso coffee makers. An electric rotating pump was created by Ernest Valente in 1950. The pump allowed a continuous, even flow of water through the coffee maker.

In 1970’s, Illy went on to simplify the espresso coffee maker process, when he introduced a machine that combined the best parts of previous espresso coffee maker methods. His machine used double filters, which costs less than other coffee makers and was simple to use.

Super automatic espresso coffee makers were born in the 70's. Now they are the standard coffee makers in many countries. The machines continue to evolve. The debate over which methods and which machines produce the best espresso will be going on as long as people continue to enjoy their cup of Joe.