Gaggia Invents Crema
High pressure, no steam: espresso gets its foam.
On 5 September 1938 Achille Gaggia applies for a patent on the first modern steamless coffee machine, which forced water over the grounds at high pressure and produced the crema that makes espresso espresso. Lever machines followed, giving us the phrase "pulling a shot", and the Gaggia company was founded in 1947.
Open in interactive timeline →Key Numbers
- Patent Application
- 5 Sept 1938
- Patent No.
- 365726
- Lever Machine
- 1945
- Company Founded
- 1947
Verified Facts
- On 5 September 1938 Achille Gaggia applied for patent 365726 for the first modern steamless coffee machine, for use in his coffee bar.
- It forced water over the coffee grounds at high pressure, producing the crema that is unique to espresso.
- The lever-driven machine, developed in Italy in 1945, is why making espresso is called "pulling a shot": the operator pulled a long handle.
- The Gaggia company was founded in 1947 and formally incorporated in 1948, and soon released its first home machine, the Gilda.
Myth vs. Reality
Myth:
Reality: Early steam machines could not reach high enough pressure for good crema. Achille Gaggia's steamless high-pressure design of 1938 is what produced it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who invented crema?
Achille Gaggia's steamless machine, patent applied for on 5 September 1938, forced water through the coffee at high pressure and produced the crema that defines espresso.
Why is it called pulling a shot?
Lever-driven espresso machines, developed in Italy in 1945, made the operator pull a long handle to make each shot.
Sources & Further Reading
Cite This Page
AskHistoryAI. “Gaggia Invents Crema.” AskHistoryAI — Interactive Timeline of Everything. Updated 2026-10-08. https://askhistoryai.com/event/sv-gaggia-crema/
Every fact on this page is checked against the published fact ledger and methodology; sources are listed above.