Do you consider yourself a coffee aficionado or just curious about the rich history behind your favorite espresso drink? This trivia quiz dives deep into the origins, preparation, and terminology of espresso – the iconic Italian brew that has captured hearts worldwide. From the meaning of ‘espresso’ in Italian to groundbreaking inventions by pioneers like Angelo Moriondo and Achille Gaggia, every question will challenge your knowledge and passion for this beloved beverage.
Understanding espresso isn’t just about knowing how to order your next cup; it’s about appreciating the craft, the science, and the culture surrounding it. Whether you love a simple shot or an affogato dessert, these questions will help you uncover the hidden layers behind every sip. Ready to test how well you know your crema from your caffè macchiato?
Don’t stop here – keep your trivia streak brewing with our general knowledge trivia, get nostalgic with trivia for seniors, or go for the gold in our hard trivia challenges. There’s a whole world of trivia waiting to be explored!
What does the word ‘espresso’ mean in Italian?
Dark, strong
Dark, strong
Fast, express
Fast, express
Boiled coffee
Boiled coffee
Small cup
Small cup
Espresso is especially associated with which country?
Greece
Greece
Spain
Spain
Italy
Italy
France
France
What is an affogato?
An Italian dessert of gelato drowned in espresso
An Italian dessert of gelato drowned in espresso
A milky coffee with foam
A milky coffee with foam
Espresso with whipped cream
Espresso with whipped cream
A type of strong, black coffee
A type of strong, black coffee
What does “caffè macchiato” literally mean in Italian?
Milk coffee
Milk coffee
Sweet coffee
Sweet coffee
Coffee with crema
Coffee with crema
Stained coffee
Stained coffee
What is the golden to reddish-brown foam on espresso called?
Crema
Crema
Foam
Foam
Froth
Froth
Head
Head
Espresso is a strong brew of coffee produced by forcing boiled water under pressure through what?
Coarsely ground coffee
Coarsely ground coffee
Coffee cherry pulp
Coffee cherry pulp
Finely ground coffee
Finely ground coffee
Coffee filters
Coffee filters
How is an espresso made?
By steeping coffee grounds in hot water
By steeping coffee grounds in hot water
By forcing hot water through finely-ground coffee beans
By forcing hot water through finely-ground coffee beans
By boiling coffee grounds directly
By boiling coffee grounds directly
By adding milk to strong coffee
By adding milk to strong coffee
How should a shot of espresso be drunk?
Slowly, to savor
Slowly, to savor
After it cools slightly
After it cools slightly
With a dash of milk
With a dash of milk
Immediately
Immediately
What is the simplest form of an espresso?
A coffee with added sugar
A coffee with added sugar
A large coffee with crema
A large coffee with crema
A coffee with a small amount of milk
A coffee with a small amount of milk
A strong black coffee
A strong black coffee
What does crema help to do?
Trap aromatics in the liquid below
Trap aromatics in the liquid below
Sweeten the coffee
Sweeten the coffee
เพิ่มความเข้มข้นให้กาแฟ (Add intensity to the coffee)
เพิ่มความเข้มข้นให้กาแฟ (Add intensity to the coffee)
Cool down the coffee
Cool down the coffee
When and where was the espresso invented?
Mid 19th century in Rome, Italy
Mid 19th century in Rome, Italy
Early 20th century in Venice, Italy
Early 20th century in Venice, Italy
Early 20th century in Naples, Italy
Early 20th century in Naples, Italy
Late 19th century in Paris, France
Late 19th century in Paris, France
Espresso is an innovation of what time period?
Early 19th century
Early 19th century
Mid 20th century
Mid 20th century
Late 19th and early 20th centuries
Late 19th and early 20th centuries
Mid 18th century
Mid 18th century
What characteristic makes espresso thicker and stronger?
Adding cream or milk
Adding cream or milk
Using darker roasted beans
Using darker roasted beans
Brewing at a higher temperature
Brewing at a higher temperature
Higher concentration of suspended and dissolved solids
Higher concentration of suspended and dissolved solids
Does espresso have more or less caffeine per unit volume than most other types of coffee?
The same
The same
More
More
It depends on the bean
It depends on the bean
Less
Less
Why do roasters generally use a blend of coffee beans from different sources for espresso?
To reduce the cost of the beans
To reduce the cost of the beans
To make the coffee less bitter
To make the coffee less bitter
To increase the acidity
To increase the acidity
To amplify their distinct character
To amplify their distinct character
Who patented a prototype of the espresso machine in 1884?
Angelo Moriondo
Angelo Moriondo
Desiderio Pavoni
Desiderio Pavoni
Luigi Bezzera
Luigi Bezzera
Achille Gaggia
Achille Gaggia
What was the full name of Angelo Moriondo’s espresso machine?
The New Steam Coffee System
The New Steam Coffee System
New steam machinery for the economic and instantaneous confection of coffee beverage, method ‘A. Moriondo’.
New steam machinery for the economic and instantaneous confection of coffee beverage, method ‘A. Moriondo’.
Moriondo’s Express Coffee Machine
Moriondo’s Express Coffee Machine
The Moriondo Instant Coffee Brewer
The Moriondo Instant Coffee Brewer
What type of brewer was Angelo Moriondo’s machine?
Drip brewer
Drip brewer
Single-cup brewer
Single-cup brewer
Bulk brewer
Bulk brewer
Pour-over brewer
Pour-over brewer
Why did early espresso machines result in a burnt flavor?
The pressure was too low
The pressure was too low
They used low-quality coffee beans
They used low-quality coffee beans
The water temperature was too low
The water temperature was too low
They forced steam through coffee
They forced steam through coffee
What problems did early espresso machines have besides being fast?
They were difficult to operate
They were difficult to operate
They were very expensive
They were very expensive
Not consistent and often burnt the coffee
Not consistent and often burnt the coffee
They produced too much foam
They produced too much foam
Who created the first known machine to force steam and hot water through ground coffee into an individual cup?
Luigi Bezzera
Luigi Bezzera
Angelo Moriondo
Angelo Moriondo
Desiderio Pavoni
Desiderio Pavoni
Achille Gaggia
Achille Gaggia
When did Luigi Bezzera from Milano patent an improved espresso machine?
1905
1905
1898
1898
1901
1901
1910
1910
What was Luigi Bezzera’s espresso machine called?
The Steam-Powered Coffee Maker
The Steam-Powered Coffee Maker
Tipo Gigante
Tipo Gigante
La Macchina di Bezzera
La Macchina di Bezzera
The Milano Express
The Milano Express
What was the name Luigi Bezzera gave to his new coffee machine?
The Quick Coffee Brewer
The Quick Coffee Brewer
The Steam Coffee Engine
The Steam Coffee Engine
Fast Coffee Machine
Fast Coffee Machine
The Espresso Maker
The Espresso Maker
Who purchased Bezzera’s espresso machine patents in 1903?
Angelo Moriondo
Angelo Moriondo
Piero Taramasso
Piero Taramasso
Achille Gaggia
Achille Gaggia
Desiderio Pavoni
Desiderio Pavoni
Who bought Bezzera’s patent in 1903 and started to produce espresso machines in 1905, founding “La Pavoni” company?
Achille Gaggia
Achille Gaggia
Luigi Bezzera
Luigi Bezzera
Desiderio Pavoni
Desiderio Pavoni
Angelo Moriondo
Angelo Moriondo
Who purchased part of Bezzera’s machine rights and patented it in 1905?
Desiderio Pavoni
Desiderio Pavoni
Luigi Bezzera
Luigi Bezzera
Ernesto Valente
Ernesto Valente
Achille Gaggia
Achille Gaggia
Who coined the term ‘caffe espresso’?
Luigi Bezzera
Luigi Bezzera
Desiderio Pavoni
Desiderio Pavoni
Achille Gaggia
Achille Gaggia
Angelo Moriondo
Angelo Moriondo
When was the ‘Ideale’ espresso machine released?
1905 Venice Biennale
1905 Venice Biennale
1903 Turin Exhibition
1903 Turin Exhibition
1906 Milan Fair
1906 Milan Fair
1910 Rome Expo
1910 Rome Expo
What was the name of the new coffee machine introduced by Pavoni and Bezzera at the 1906 World’s Fair in Milan?
The Perfect Machine
The Perfect Machine
La Milanese
La Milanese
Ideale
Ideale
The Rapid Brewer
The Rapid Brewer
What innovation did Achille Gaggia create in 1938 regarding espresso machines?
A machine that could increase steam pressure for espresso from 1.5-2 atmospheres to 8-10 atmospheres
A machine that could increase steam pressure for espresso from 1.5-2 atmospheres to 8-10 atmospheres
A machine that used hot water instead of steam
A machine that used hot water instead of steam
A machine that automatically ground the beans
A machine that automatically ground the beans
The first lever-operated machine
The first lever-operated machine
Who developed a piston pump in 1938?
Desiderio Pavoni
Desiderio Pavoni
Achille Gaggia
Achille Gaggia
Ernesto Valente
Ernesto Valente
Cremonesi
Cremonesi
What did Achille Gaggia’s machine use to increase water pressure?
A gear pump
A gear pump
A spring-piston lever
A spring-piston lever
Direct steam pressure
Direct steam pressure
A centrifugal pump
A centrifugal pump
You can do better
Not bad
Great!
Think you know espresso inside out? Take your taste for trivia further with our general knowledge trivia, savor some brain teasers in trivia for seniors, and push your limits with our hard trivia. Dive in and test your skills today!
