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

Law, 47, wore an espresso leather trench coat and paired it with leather shoes and an oversized handbag. —Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026

At Gotcha Match, customers will find more than a dozen matcha creations alongside chai lattes, espresso, refreshers and hot tea. —Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 28 Jan. 2026

Fancy hot chocolate for the kids; espresso martini for you? —Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 28 Jan. 2026

It is often enjoyed neat with a twist of lemon; many imbibers combine it with espresso to make a caffè corretto. —Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 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

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

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