Agency Dictionary
espresso
nounPronunciation: /ɛˈsprɛsoʊ/
In Portuguese: expresso
Culture & IdentityWhat does “espresso” mean?
A concentrated coffee beverage brewed by forcing pressurized hot water through finely ground coffee beans.
Etymology
From Italian (caffè) espresso, where espresso is the past participle of esprimere, "to press out", from Latin exprimere, formed from ex ("out") and premere ("to press"). The usual explanation is that the name refers to the water forced through the coffee under pressure. Some sources add or prefer the senses "made expressly for the customer" and "fast", which the Italian word also has, so the exact reason for the name is not settled. English adopted the word in the middle of the 20th century.
Usage note
The spelling expresso, influenced by express, is widespread but treated as a mistake by many style guides. The plural is espressos.
Synonyms
- short black
- caffè espresso
Often confused with
- express
- Express, as in an express train, means fast or direct; espresso is only the coffee.
Word family
- express
- expression
Usage examples
It doesn’t matter if it’s just 8oz of volume, if it is just a simple espresso, or if you have a huge and warm surplus of it waiting for you in the coffee machine some meters away.
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
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