espresso

noun

espres·​so e-ˈspre-(ˌ)sō 

variants or less commonly expresso

ik-ˈspre-(ˌ)sō 

plural espressos also expressos

1

: a strong-tasting coffee that is brewed by forcing hot water under high pressure through finely ground coffee beans and is typically consumed in small servings

2

: a cup of espresso

She ordered two espressos.

Examples of espresso in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

After a few tries, even beginners can pull cafe-quality espresso shots. —Christopher Murray May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2025

English believes Italian espresso culture becoming the face of the café experience has pushed Black consumers away from local coffee shops. —Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 28 Sep. 2025

Mike Vrabel goes for a quad espresso — which sounds more like a dinosaur than a drink. —Dianna Russini, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025

Better Together is a local favorite in South Milwaukee, known for its flavorful milkshakes and espresso bar. —Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 27 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Italian (caffè) espresso, probably literally, coffee made on the spot at the customer's request

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for espresso

• gesso

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Kids Definition

espresso

noun

espres·​so e-ˈspres-ō 

variants also expresso

ik-ˈspres-ō 

plural espressos

: coffee brewed by forcing steam or hot water through finely ground darkly roasted coffee beans