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

Vergara's skintight dress also made a trendy statement with its espresso brown color. —Lara Walsh, InStyle, 21 Jan. 2026

And those settings span the entire brewing spectrum, from espresso to cold brew. —Noah Kaufman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Jan. 2026

The café’s menu ranges from espresso drinks and hot and iced teas to lemonades, mojitos, smoothies, milkshakes and frappes. —Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 19 Jan. 2026

Add a twist to the iconic Arizona silhouette by picking up this monochromatic espresso pair. —Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026

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