New York City, Italian-American, Coffee Shop Little Italy, NYC

Photo of Manhattan New York, Italian-American cafe espresso shop on MacDougal Street where coffee and soft drinks are sold. Taken in 1942. This showcases the large traditional espresso machine made of brass.

The history of traditional espresso machines can be traced back to the early 20th century in Italy. The first espresso machine was patented in 1884 by Angelo Moriondo, but it wasn't until 1901 that Desiderio Pavoni created a commercial version that was able to produce espresso efficiently. This machine, known as the La Pavoni, was the first true espresso machine to be marketed to the public. Since then, many improvements have been made to the traditional espresso machine, including the addition of steam wands for frothing milk, improved boilers for better temperature control, and the development of automatic machines that can grind, tamp, and brew espresso with the push of a button. The commercial espresso machine industry continued to grow and evolve over the following decades, with many companies producing their own versions of espresso machines for use in cafes, restaurants, and other food service establishments. Today, there are many different types and styles of commercial espresso machines available on the market, ranging from basic models to high-end machines that offer advanced features and capabilities.