“Espresso Made in Italy” is now back to the bookshops in a newly enriched edition. The book is the first and only publication – edited by Enrico Maltoni – describing the evolution of espresso coffee machines in Italy since the early Twentieth century, up to present days. Over 200 images, technical material and new pages, including the first advertisement from Gaggia trademark. 

Espresso coffee, certainly the most popular example of the ”Italian way of life” in the world. The re-discovery of the fascinating evolution of this typically Italian habit, since the beginning of the Twentieth century, and during the roaring years of the “Bel Paese” and of its society.

A story starting from an original perspective – that of espresso coffee machines and of their evolution -, going through the pages of "Espresso made in Italy 1901 - 1962" (Enrico Maltoni’s Collection, 160 pages, 21x28 size; World Edition: Eur. 50.00).

After the success of the first edition, distributed into thousands of copies all over the world, the book edited by Italian collector Enrico Maltoni (in collaboration with architect-designer, Giuseppe Fabris) is now available in an enriched and more detailed version (16 new pages).

The text is the only publication in the world describing the most important sixty years of espresso coffee, through the analysis of the technical and even the stylistic development of coffee bar machines. Enrico Maltoni’s book goes back in time to the historical date of November 1901, which marks the birth in Milan of the first patented "Bezzera" model, the first Italian espresso machine.

From this fundamental moment onwards, going through the pages of "Espresso made in Italy 1901 - 1962 ", the reader can follow the development of coffee bar machines, step by step, from the early examples – true brass and copper sculptures enriched with Art Nouveau and Art Deco fashion decorations – to the coffee machines which have marked in the Fifties the “union” between design and industrial production.

These high-value pieces of art are all marked by the big names of Italian design - Giò Ponti, Bruno Munari, Enzo Mari, Achille and Piergiacomo Castiglioni, and Marco Zanuso.

Even if you do not particularly like coffee and its fascinating industry, you can not resist the charm of the coffee machines depicted – from the Art Nouveau "Victoria Arduino" model of 1910 to the classic-style "Gaggia" of 1948 (the first lever machine), including the coffee machine produced by "La Pavoni" trademark and designed by Gio Ponti (one of the first horizontally-positioned boiler espresso machines, of which a few examples still remain in the world), the Cimbali “Gran Luce” model of 1958 (inspired by American juke-box design), and, finally, the Faema “Marte" model of 1952, which draws inspiration from the American Cadillac and Buick cars of those years.

In addition to the marvellous images and photos of different coffee machines (the new edition includes over 200 photos), mostly property of Mr. Maltoni’s long-established private collection (which can be fully explored by visiting the curious Coffee Machines Museum in Bertinoro, northern Italy), the reader can appreciate vintage patents and wonderful coffee ads from the old days. In this second edition, you can not miss out its unique material, never published before – such as the first Gaggia advertisement on how to prepare the coffee cream, dating back to the Forties, and a curious page from “La Domenica del Corriere”, the Italian newspaper of the Fifties, where the explosion of coffee machine in a bar is reported together with the customers’ scare and shock.

Once you have finished to glance through this elegant book, in addition to the pleasure of reading, why don’t you enjoy yourself by identifying the book marvellous espresso machines by visiting the Italian most fashionable cafés or those of your countries? These fascinating places often show off their elegant old “ladies” in a perfectly restored condition – as in the roaring years, they still brew thousands of coffees and say “good morning” to all Italians, every day.

The book is available in bookshops or can be purchased on line, visiting the website: www.espressomadeinitaly.com

For informations info@espressomadeinitaly.com