noun
espresso
eh-SPREH-soh
noun
1
A strong, concentrated coffee made by forcing hot water through finely ground beans under high pressure.
"She ordered a double espresso to get through the afternoon meeting."
"The café's espresso had a thick layer of golden crema on top."
2
Any drink made using espresso as its base, such as a latte or cappuccino.
"The menu listed six different espresso drinks."
How to Use Espresso
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small, strong shot of coffee made under pressure, the base for most coffee-shop drinks.
Common mistake
It is spelled and pronounced "espresso," not "expresso" — there is no "x" in the word.
Common pairings
a shot of espresso
espresso machine
double espresso
espresso bar
Word Forms
espressos plural, espressi plural
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Etymology
From Italian espresso, "pressed out," describing how the coffee is forced through the grounds under pressure — not related to the English word "express" meaning fast, despite the common myth.