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The Big Story

The Espresso Revolution

Espresso, with its Italian heritage

and intense character, entered
the global stage as both a
symbol of modernity and a new
standard of quality. The
compact, pressure-brewed shot,
crowned with crema, became
the foundation for a host of new
drinks, from the beautiful
cappuccino to the artfully
layered latte. With the rise of
global coffeehouse chains and
independent specialty cafés,
espresso machines became
fixtures in urban life.

This revolution was not without
consequences for traditional
filter brews. The espresso
movement brought with it a
wave of innovation, education,
and, occasionally,
condescension. Filter coffee was
often relegated to the shadows

—dismissed as weak, old-
fashioned, or unsophisticated.
Cafés replaced filter pots with
gleaming espresso machines,
and the vocabulary of coffee
shifted to shots, pulls, and
pours.

Pic credit: Sama Hosseini

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SEP/OCT. 2025 | ISSUE 44