For you, the coffee lover, the detail-oriented person, the person who basically wants to shine in society, this article will help you find the right formula.
Here are some answers that will feed the curiosity of the Master Capello in you.
I'll break the suspense right away: there is no right answer but two right answers. Are you still following me? Indeed, you can write both "espresso" with an "s" and "expresso" with an "x". The most important thing is to know why and to analyze the etymology of these two cousins... That's two good reasons to continue reading this article!
Let's start with some history. The "caffè espresso" was invented by the Italians in 1884 in Turin thanks to Angelo Moriondo who registered the patents for the machines used to produce the famous beverage: a short coffee, often very strong with a strong aroma, obtained by percolation under high pressure.
For the Italians, the term "espresso" is derived from the verb "esprimere" which means "to extract by pressure".
Are they the only ones to spell espresso with an "s"? The answer is no. The Anglo-Saxons do it too. In fact, for them "espresso" is a derivative of "pressed out", which literally means "extracted by pressure".
However, and this is the starting point of this article, some people write espresso with an "x". Who are these dissidents? A half-cock-a-doodle-doo, they are the French and the Portuguese. The "x" comes from the term "express"... An English term, itself from the Latin "expressus". The Italians have therefore replaced the "x" of the Latin root by an "s", which is a very common thing for them, while the French and Portuguese have kept it. From my point of view, and it is only my point of view, the latter are closer to the truth. Purists will tend to say "espresso" to pay tribute to the Italians who invented it... The debate is open!
In any case, don't worry... Nobody will blame you if you use "espresso" or "espresso", both are acceptable and it will give you a good opportunity to show your science in society.
By the way, do we say mocha or mocha? If you want to know the answer, we have written an article on the subject. Enjoy reading it!
