Luigi Bezzera

About Luigi Bezzera

Luigi Bezzera was an Italian mechanic and inventor who invented the first practical espresso machine in 1901. His machine used pressurized water to extract coffee quickly and efficiently, creating a rich, concentrated beverage known as espresso.

In this article, we discuss all the details of Luigi Bezzera, including his personal and professional life and much more.

Significance

Italy changed a lot in the late 1800s and early 1900s due to large factories making things. After taking coffee breaks, people running factories noticed that their workers were performing better. But the problem was that, at that time, making coffee required a lot of effort. They had to make coffee in small quantities, like Turkish coffee, and it took more than five minutes to make and even longer to drink. This ultimately led to longer coffee breaks, which was not as effective for companies as it was reducing work efficiency.

A clever young man from Milan named Luigi Bezzera did something great to fix the slow coffee problem: he made a machine. It was the first machine to make a cup of strong coffee and it could make it as fast as just 30 seconds.

Early Life

Bezerra's date and place of birth are unknown, and details are not provided by him in any official written source, but he is believed to have been born in Milan, Italy in the late 19th century.He trained as a mechanic and worked on various projects, including developing new machines for the food and beverage industry.

Career

A long time ago, Angelo Moriondo got a patent (like a special permission) to make coffee quickly using steam and hot water. But, it could have been more practical, and only a few machines like that were near Turin.

Later, another guy named Luigi Bezzera implemented the Angelo idea and got his patent in 1901. He made several important changes in machines, like making them faster and more affordable so everyone could buy them, and these machines were comparatively easy to use.

Then, Desiderio Pavoni sought Bezzera's patent and introduced La Pavoni in 1905. He continued working on the machine and demonstrated it at a major event in Milan in 1906, where he first called coffee made in this manner "espresso".

Pavoni started selling the machine under the name "Ideal for La Pavoni", Bezzera and Pavoni eventually went their separate ways and built their own companies later.

Today, the Bezzera Company is run by Luca Bezzera, Luigi Bezzera's great-grandson. Notably, the name Bezzera comes from Portuguese but in Italy, it is pronounced with emphasis on the first syllable.

In 1901, Bezzera patented his first espresso machine. The machine used a boiler to heat water to high pressure, which was then forced through a bed of coffee grounds. This resulted in a concentrated coffee extract that was stronger and more delicious than traditional coffee.

Bezzera's machine was a breakthrough in the coffee industry. It allowed coffee shops to serve espresso quickly and efficiently, and it helped to popularise the beverage worldwide.

In 1905, Bezzera sold the rights to his patent to Desiderio Pavoni, who founded the La Pavoni Company. Pavoni began mass-producing Bezzera's espresso machine, which helped to make it even more popular.

Personal and Professional Life

Bezerra's personal life needed to be well documented as there are currently no official sources that describe his life. He is known to have married and had children, but their names and other details are unknown.

Bezzera continued to work on improving his espresso machine throughout his career. He made several important innovations, including introducing a removable portafilter and a pressure gauge.

Bezzera died in the early 20th century, but his legacy continues today. His espresso machine is still used in coffee shops and homes worldwide.

Impact

Luigi Bezzera is known for his discovery in the world of coffee. Because of his creativity and extraordinary ideas, he made the machine that revolutionized how coffee is made and consumed. Espresso is now one of the most popular coffee beverages in the world, and Bezerra's machine is still used in many places to make it.

He is believed to have died in the 20th century. However, Bezzera's legacy is still felt in the coffee industry itself. The company he initially supported, La Pavoni, is still one of the leading manufacturers of espresso machines. Bezzera's innovations are still used in espresso machines today, and his machine continues to be a standard in the coffee industry.