Then again, the restaurant also spelled mocha with a K ( moka is also Italian, a brewing process for a coffee drink with no chocolate). Makes sense, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. The Oxford American Dictionary goes on to note: “The often-occurring variant spelling expresso-and its pronunciation |ikˈspresō|-is incorrect and was probably formed by analogy with express.” Makes sense, the association of express, a word we know, with espresso, a foreign term. In North America, expresso is a common name for espresso. The Italian word espresso doesn’t mean express as in speed, but to express a verb referring to the coffee extraction process. A drip coffee maker can take up to five minutes for brewing.

Also, espresso is made by pressing out water through darkly roasted, finely ground coffee beans at a relatively quick pace. The French usage is believed to have rubbed off on English. Espresso comes from the Latin term exprimere, meaning pressed out. Expresso is considered the right term or spelling for espresso in France. Perhaps as Americans we are combing the two to form the hideous expresso? Here are the differences between expresso vs espresso. So espresso is Italian un express is French. Strong black coffee made by forcing steam through ground coffee beans from Italian (caffè) espresso, literally ‘pressed out (coffee).’ Here’s what I found in The Oxford American Dictionary: My only consolation: Another Which Word Wednesday, plopped in my lap. Maybe that’s why this little French-like restaurant spelled espresso incorrectly? But why not just call it un express to make it French-authentic? hmm. Lodge Lady J mentioned that in France espresso was a small shot, un express. But I had to document what I often hear but haven’t ever seen in print. Language talk makes for delightful table conversation, so I drug my beach retreat friends into a riveting discussion about which was correct. ack!Īnd of course, I couldn’t contain myself. Right there, for all the world to see (and adopt!) was expresso. Best Professional-Quality Espresso Machine: La Marzocco Linea.

Best Small Espresso Machine: DeLonghi Dedica Deluxe Espresso Maker. No, it was after that, when I stopped at the Hot Drinks section to look over my coffee options. Best Fully-Automated Espresso Machine: Breville Barista Touch. Marteen Crepe with its delectable combo of bananas and Nutella (which was fabulous, by the way). There I was, scanning the dessert menu of a quaint little place called Island Creperie, and my eyes did a double take.

Expresso or espresso