What does espresso mean?
Espresso is a concentrated coffee beverage produced by forcing hot water at high pressure through finely ground, tightly compacted coffee. The result is a small, intense serving — typically about an ounce — topped with crema, a reddish-brown foam that signals a well-made shot. Originating in Italy in the early twentieth century, espresso has become the foundation of much of the world's café culture: cappuccinos, lattes, macchiatos, and Americanos are all built on a base of one or more shots. The word also denotes the dark-roasted bean blends and fine grinds used to prepare the drink. English speakers treat espresso primarily as a countable noun (a double espresso), though it can appear as an uncountable mass noun when describing a style of coffee. A common misspelling, expresso, reflects folk association with speed, but the term actually comes from the Italian for 'pressed out' or 'expressly made.'
A concentrated coffee beverage made by forcing hot water under pressure through finely ground, compacted coffee.
"The barista pulled two espressos before the morning rush."
Pluralized as espressos; also used attributively, as in espresso machine or espresso cup.
Coffee beans or a roast prepared and ground specifically for brewing espresso.
"This dark roast works well as an espresso."
Often used as a mass noun in this sense.
Standard plural; used when ordering or referring to multiple servings.
"We ordered three espressos after dinner."
The word espresso doesn't come from 'fast' — it means coffee made expressly for you, pressed out under pressure one cup at a time.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of espresso
Espresso comes from Italian espresso, meaning 'pressed out' or 'expressed,' the past participle of esprimere, from Latin exprimere ('to press out'). The drink takes its name from the method of preparation — water forced through coffee under pressure — though popular accounts often connect it to the idea of a cup made expressly for the individual customer. The term entered English in the twentieth century as Italian espresso machines spread across Europe and beyond. It shares its Latin root with words such as express and expression.
How espresso is actually used
Espresso functions as both a countable noun (two espressos) and, less commonly, as a mass noun referring to the type of coffee. In Italian, the word literally means 'pressed out' or 'express,' reflecting the brewing method. The variant spelling 'expresso' is widely seen but considered incorrect.
Easily confused with espresso
"Expresso" is a common misspelling of espresso; the standard English word derives from Italian "espresso," with an s, not x.