The First Espresso Machine Patent
A Turin café owner patents instant coffee by steam.
On 16 May 1884 Angelo Moriondo of Turin is granted a patent for a steam-driven "instantaneous" coffee machine, almost certainly the first Italian bar machine to control steam and water separately through the coffee. It brewed in bulk; Luigi Bezzera's 1901 improvements, built by La Pavoni from 1903, made it a single-serving machine.
Open in interactive timeline →Key Numbers
- Moriondo Patent
- 16 May 1884
- Bezzera Application
- 19 December 1901
- La Pavoni Founded
- 1903
- Early Output
- One machine a day
Verified Facts
- Angelo Moriondo of Turin was granted patent no. 33/256, dated 16 May 1884, for a steam-driven "instantaneous" coffee beverage making device.
- It was almost certainly the first Italian bar machine that controlled the supply of steam and water separately through the coffee. Unlike true espresso machines, it brewed in bulk, not as individual servings.
- In 1901 Luigi Bezzera of Milan applied for a patent on improvements to the machine, granted on 5 June 1902.
- In 1903 Desiderio Pavoni bought Bezzera's patent, founded La Pavoni and began making the machine industrially, one a day, in a small workshop on Via Parini in Milan.
Myth vs. Reality
Myth:
Reality: It brewed coffee in bulk. Single servings came with Luigi Bezzera's 1901 improvements, which La Pavoni manufactured from 1903.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who invented the espresso machine?
Angelo Moriondo of Turin patented a steam-driven coffee machine on 16 May 1884. It brewed in bulk; Luigi Bezzera's 1901 improvements, made by La Pavoni from 1903, gave the single-serving bar machine.
What is La Pavoni?
The company Desiderio Pavoni founded after buying Luigi Bezzera's patent in 1903. It began by making one machine a day in Milan and still makes lever espresso machines.
Sources & Further Reading
Cite This Page
AskHistoryAI. “The First Espresso Machine Patent.” AskHistoryAI — Interactive Timeline of Everything. Updated 2026-10-08. https://askhistoryai.com/event/sv-espresso-machine/
Every fact on this page is checked against the published fact ledger and methodology; sources are listed above.