Espresso is a tiny coffee with great power. Italians start their day with it and finish every rich meal with it! In Poland, it is gaining increasing popularity in restaurants and cafes, although traditional "sypanka" (pour-over coffee) still reigns supreme in homes. According to tradition, espresso is served with a glass of water of several times larger capacity. What is the purpose of such a combination? Is water drunk before or after coffee? How to make aromatic espresso at home and where did the popularity of "little black" coffee come from in the first place?
Italian love for coffee
Espresso is a method of brewing coffee in hot water and under pressure. The name itself means "squeezed" in Italian - the brew is an essence from finely ground and pressed coffee beans. It originated with the invention of the espresso machine in 1901 by Luigi Bezzera.
The machine, improved over time, produced the espresso we know today only in 1947. The strong brew gained popularity thanks to the mass emigration of Italians to the United States. There, they opened cafes on a large scale, brewing coffee in these modern machines.
It's hard to believe that such an essential element of daily life for Italians - as well as Spaniards, Greeks, Latinos, and other "southern" nations - originated so recently! In these countries, establishments selling espresso are literally everywhere - you can drink it not only in cafes and restaurants, but also in places like bakeries, kiosks, or even ordinary general stores. It is an almost indispensable element of the morning and every rich meal; of rest and celebration. The word "coffee" itself - caffe - means, among other things, on the Apennine Peninsula, nothing more and nothing less than espresso!
Tourists visiting these countries for the first time are often amazed by the popularity of this small, strong coffee. Even more surprising are the rules for drinking it when first encountered - why water with espresso, and in a much larger glass at that?
Recipe for a perfect espresso
The basis for preparing an aromatic espresso is, of course, high-quality coffee. The best results are obtained by using special blends of unground coffee beans intended for this drink. Water for espresso, poured into the machine, is also important. It must be soft, preferably filtered and fresh.
The device in which the coffee is prepared is of paramount importance. Pressure espresso machines brew it under approximately 9 bars of pressure and subject the beans to extraction in a short time, which allows for the creation of a perfect brew with a visible foam, called crema. It is in this foam that the entire aroma is concentrated. Such prepared coffee, which is only 25-30 ml, has a high caffeine content and is characterized by a very strong, distinct taste, characteristic of the given coffee variety.
Specialists involved in the sensory profiling of coffee state that there are as many as 28 of its so-called shades, including, for example, floral, berry, and dried fruit. From these, several dozen more precisely defined notes can be distinguished. Trying to identify them while savoring your favorite "little black" can bring many intriguing sensations every day! How to drink espresso in such a conscious way?
Coffee drinking etiquette
It cannot be denied that when first encountering this custom, a glass of water with espresso - preferably still and at room temperature - may seem at least a little surprising. However, by the way a tiny cup, filled only halfway with black brew, is served in duet with elegant glassware, one can immediately recognize an understanding of coffee etiquette.
Drinking coffee - even as small as an espresso - should primarily bring joy! To get the most out of these few sips, it is worth seeing how its creators from the Apennine Peninsula enjoy them.
Why water with coffee? That's where the tasting begins. It helps to normalize the temperature in the mouth and cleanses the taste buds. Thanks to this, the chances of detecting all the aromas significantly increase. You can often see with your own eyes how Italians, reaching for this small cup, clearly... slow down. For them, 30 ml of strong brew is not just quickly consumed caffeine, but also a moment for themselves and focusing on the sensations it brings! Although, according to etiquette, hot espresso should be drunk in no more than 3-4 sips, each of them can bring many new, unusual flavors - even when reaching for a brew from beans that were previously drunk every day, but in a hurry!
Can this aromatic coffee also be enjoyed at home? How to serve espresso in a truly Italian style, without an espresso machine?
Espresso without an espresso machine
Knowing already how to drink espresso, it's worth preparing it at home! There are many types of coffee beans from all over the world available on the market, which can surprise with their aromas and help discover many new flavors! This small coffee is perfect in the morning, during a temporary dip in energy during the day, or when guests visit. Plus, you don't even need an espresso machine to prepare it!
For this purpose, a moka pot will be useful - a small coffee maker for brewing coffee under pressure. This small aluminum or steel device is essential equipment in every Italian home! Simply pour water and freshly ground coffee into it, and then apply heat from below - e.g., on a gas burner or induction hob. Espresso - just like in an espresso machine - will brew very quickly and under pressure, and its taste will not be inferior to a brew from a branded machine! When serving - both when entertaining guests and on a leisurely morning - it is always worth remembering a glass of water with coffee, thanks to which you will be able to enjoy its full flavor profile!
A sweet dilemma
Espresso is a very strong and bitter coffee. This intense taste may not appeal to everyone. Even in its country of origin, in many regions people prefer to drink it with a very large amount of sugar, almost turning it into coffee syrup. In such cases, a glass of water with coffee will certainly be useful for rinsing the mouth even after such a sweet brew!
Espresso has also become the basis for various recipes: with milk foam it turns into a cappuccino, with a small amount of regular milk into a latte macchiato, and with added water into a lungo. With ice, served cold, it pleasantly refreshes as a frappe.
For serving many of these drinks, based on espresso, glasses with thick walls and bottoms are excellent, allowing you to observe the color and forming layers. Latte or lungo served this way will be coffee in a truly Italian style – full of attention and joy from the moment of tasting!