Nov. 23: It's National Espresso Day

Happy Thanksgiving to our USA friends and may you have a peaceful day outside the USA


1. Many of us have a big day ahead tomorrow and may be inundated with a variety of tasks in order to pull off a festive, happy Thanksgiving.

With our lives already busy enough, it's no wonder why so many folks go for that morning cup of coffee to kick-start our day. It just so happens that today, Nov. 23, is National Espresso Day, and if you're looking for that extra "umph," espresso may be just what you're looking for.

But what is espresso exactly? First of all, it isn’t just the trendy new thing; it’s actually been around since 1903 and was invented by Luigi Bezzera, according to a history of espresso published on the University of Scranton website.

True espresso is brewed with a pump or piston-driven espresso machine and is enjoyed worldwide,according to Wikipedia. Espresso is not a type of bean, nor is it a type of blend or roast. It is simply a speedy method of brewing coffee using machines that force hot water, between 192ºF and 204ºF, at high pressure through finely-ground and compacted coffee, according to Wikipedia.

The ideal shot of espresso is extracted in approximately 23 to 25 seconds and has three parts – the foam, body and heart. The foam is a rich caramel cream that forms when brewed properly and sits atop the body. The heart is at the bottom of the cup and is typically bitter.

2. Since we’re on the topic, let’s do a quick Coffee 101 on what is what, according to The CoffeeBrewers.

·                                 Typical American Coffee – coffee is brewed by mixing the grounds of roasted coffee beans with hot water, steeped briefly, then straining out the grounds.

·                                 Cappuccino and Latte – These are made with espresso and milk. In cappuccino, the milk is frothed into foam. Cappuccino uses equal portions of espresso and milk. In latte, the milk is just steamed, and there is twice as much milk used than espresso.