![]() ![]() Oxford Dictionaries calls expresso ‘incorrect’, but the OED, Merriam-Webster, American Heritage Dictionary, and Macmillan Dictionary all list it neutrally as a variant, meaning it also lists “expresso” as another form of the word. ‘Expresso’ May Be More Common in British English But expresso has been in print since at least 1955 (appearing first in the New York Times, no less), which is almost as long as espresso has been in the language. ![]() To them, it’s wrong, end of story, and anyone who uses the word is making a careless linguistic error and a social faux pas. Usage purists are not happy about expresso being in common use. "Espresso" is peripherally related to the word “express” since "express" and "pressed" both come from the same Latin root, but since "espresso" comes to English from Italian, its direct origin is the word for "pressed." But “espresso” primarily comes from the Italian word for "pressed." The Oxford English Dictionary says it literally translates to “pressed coffee.” It's about how the coffee is made. I think people might link the word “express” with “espresso” because espresso can be a fast way to get caffeine, which can make you feel faster. We’re always happy to have an excuse to talk about espresso, and the big language thing to note is that it’s pronounced “espresso,” not “expresso.” We even saw some people spell it ‘esspreso’, ‘exspresso’, ‘espreso’, ‘expreso’, which is just utterly offensive. So the ‘x’ infiltrates the spelling and pronunciation of espresso, leading to expresso.īecause we have come across so many clients and people who mispronounce and spell espresso incorrectly, we want to talk about espresso and why it’s so important. But because it’s so similar to English express, which often refers to a rapid service ( express train, express delivery, express lane), there’s a common belief that it has to do with speed – an espresso as a quick coffee on the go. ![]() But should you? And why are both words used? The Difference Between Espresso and ExpressoĮspresso comes from Italian caffé espresso, and means ‘pressed out’ – the coffee is made by pushing pressurised water through the beans. Some will judge you, silently or otherwise, for not saying espresso with an ‘s’ instead. Ask for an expresso in public and you’ll put frowns on the faces of perfect strangers. Fussiness over the taste of coffee is matched by fussiness over its terminology – though the fussers aren’t necessarily the same people. For many it’s a highlight (or several) of the day, so it’s important to get it right. ![]()
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