Fascinating and Enjoyable Trivia about Angelo Moriondo, the Pioneer of Espresso Machines
Google Commemorates Angelo Moriondo, the Visionary behind Espresso Machines, on His 171st Birthday
On June 6, 2022, Google, the renowned search engine giant, honors the life and accomplishments of Angelo Moriondo, widely regarded as the godfather of espresso machines, through an animated Doodle. Let’s delve into some intriguing and entertaining facts about Angelo Moriondo, exploring his remarkable journey and contributions.
Personal Information about Angelo Moriondo
- Birth name: Angelo Moriondo
- Date of birth: 6 June 1851
- Birthplace: Turin, Kingdom of Sardinia
- Died on: 31 May 1914 (aged 62)
- Death place: Marentino, Turin, Italy
- Nationality: Italian
- Wife name: Mrs. Moriondo
- Father name– Giacomo
Fascinating Facts about Angelo Moriondo, the Pioneer of Espresso Machines
- Angelo Moriondo was born on June 6, 1851, in Turin, Kingdom of Sardinia, into a Christian family. He spent his childhood in Turin.
- Moriondo completed his studies at a local school in Turin, Kingdom of Sardinia.
- In 1884, Angelo Moriondo invented the espresso machine, marking a significant milestone in the history of coffee. However, Luigi Bezzera later patented the first coffee machine to use steam for brewing, a few years after Moriondo’s invention.
- Moriondo hailed from a family of innovators. His grandfather established an alcohol delivery company, which was later taken over by his father, Giacomo. Giacomo, along with his brother Agostino and cousin Gariglio, founded the renowned chocolate company “Moriondo and Gariglio.” Angelo himself acquired the Grand-Hotel Ligure and the American Bar in Turin.
- The idea behind Moriondo’s espresso machine stemmed from his desire to gain a competitive edge in the rapidly growing European coffee market. Traditional brewing methods took several minutes, and Moriondo envisioned serving multiple cups of espresso simultaneously, catering to customers who were short on time.
- Moriondo’s invention was not intended for industrial-scale production or individual cup brewing, unlike later espresso machines. However, experts acknowledge that his innovation was the first to use pressurized steam and water to expedite the coffee-making process, making it the world’s first coffee machine.
- Despite his pioneering invention, Moriondo missed the opportunity to become synonymous with espresso machines.
- In 1884, Moriondo showcased his espresso machine at the General Expo in Turin, where it received the bronze medal.
- On May 16, 1884, Moriondo was granted a patent for his steam-powered espresso machine titled “New steam hardware for the financial and quick sugary treat of espresso refreshment, strategy ‘A. Moriondo’.” The machine was constructed by a mechanic named Martina under Moriondo’s supervision.
- The machine consisted of a large boiler that forced hot water through a bed of coffee grounds. It also featured a separate boiler for producing steam, which would flash through the coffee bed to complete the brewing process.
- Moriondo made additional improvements to his invention, leading to another patent on November 20, 1884 (Vol 34, No, 381). He also obtained an international patent registered in Paris on October 23, 1885.
- Angelo Moriondo did not pursue mass production of his invention. He focused on developing a limited number of hand-built machines, which he kept exclusively in his establishments, believing that it would attract more customers.
- Ian Bersten, a historian specializing in coffee history, claims to be the only researcher who has examined Moriondo’s patent. Bersten describes the device as “the first Italian bar machine that controlled the supply of steam and water separately for coffee” and recognizes Moriondo as “one of the earliest pioneers of the Espresso Machine.” However, it should be noted that the machine was not designed to brew coffee specifically for individual customers like modern espresso machines.
- Moriondo conceived and built a remarkable machine, but he never commercialized the idea. It was left to two Milanese entrepreneurs, Luigi Bezzera and Desiderio Pavoni, to refine Moriondo’s method and introduce it to the market.
- Angelo Moriondo passed away on May 31, 1914, in Marentino, Turin, Italy, at the age of 62.
- Moriondo remained content with his business ventures and did not actively promote his espresso machine.
- Within a few years, Bezzera and Pavoni developed a machine capable of brewing up to 1,000 cups of coffee per hour, revolutionizing the coffee industry.
- While Moriondo enjoyed a comfortable life through his entrepreneurial pursuits, he could have achieved even greater wealth and recognition if he had recognized the potential of his invention.
- On June 6, 2022, Google featured an animated Doodle on its homepage to celebrate Angelo Moriondo’s 171st birthday, paying tribute to his contributions as the pioneer of espresso machines.
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