Angelo Moriondo Espresso Machine: When was the first espresso machine invented?

The first espresso machine was invented in 1884 by Angelo Moriondo. An espresso machine brews coffee by forcing pressurised water approaching boiling temperature through a “puck” of ground coffee and a filter to make a thick, concentrated coffee.

Angelo was born on June 6, 1851, in Turin, Italy to a business family. His grandpa started a liquor production company, which was passed down to his son Angelo’s father, who eventually founded the well-known chocolate company ‘Moriondo and Gariglio.’

Moriondo initially demonstrated his invention at the General Expo of Turin in 1884, where he received a bronze medal. To efficiently make coffee, his system used a combination of steam and boiling water.

On May 16, 1884, a six-year patent was granted under the title “New steam apparatus for the economical and quick confection of coffee beverage, technique A. Moriondo.”

The machine was developed by mechanic Martina under the supervision of Moriondo; however, he never carried the innovation to industrial-scale manufacturing and instead focused on hand-made machines.