Angelo Moriondo was an Italian inventor who is widely credited with patenting the first espresso machine in 1884. His invention revolutionized the way coffee was brewed and consumed, and paved the way for the modern coffee culture. But how did he die, and why is his death shrouded in mystery?
Contents
The Life and Inventions of Angelo Moriondo
Angelo Moriondo was born on June 6, 1851, in Turin, Italy. He came from a family of entrepreneurs and engineers, who were involved in various businesses, such as liquor production, chocolate making, and hotel management. Moriondo himself owned the Grand-Hotel Ligure and the American Bar in Turin, where he served coffee to his customers.
Moriondo was dissatisfied with the traditional method of making coffee, which was slow, laborious, and inconsistent. He wanted to create a machine that could brew coffee faster, easier, and better. He experimented with various mechanisms and designs, and finally came up with a prototype of a steam-powered coffee machine, which he patented on May 16, 1884.
His machine used a combination of steam and boiling water to force hot water through finely ground coffee beans, producing a concentrated and aromatic beverage. He called his invention “New steam machinery for the economic and instantaneous confection of coffee beverage, method ‘A. Moriondo’”. He presented his machine at the General Expo of Turin in 1884, where he won a bronze medal. He later improved his machine and obtained several patents in Italy and France.
Moriondo is considered the godfather of espresso machines, as he was the first to conceive and patent the idea of using steam and pressure to brew coffee. His machine was a precursor to the modern espresso machines, which were later developed and popularized by other inventors, such as Luigi Bezzera and Achille Gaggia.
The Death and Legacy of Angelo Moriondo
Despite his groundbreaking invention, Moriondo never took his machine to industrial-scale production. He only built a few handcrafted machines, which he kept in his own establishments, as a way of attracting and impressing customers. He did not market or sell his machine to other coffee shops or manufacturers. He was more interested in running his businesses than in promoting his invention.
Moriondo died on May 31, 1914, at the age of 62, in Marentino, Turin, Italy. The cause of his death is unknown, as it was never revealed by his family or documented by any official records. Some speculate that he died of natural causes, while others suggest that he was murdered by his competitors or rivals, who wanted to steal or destroy his invention.
Moriondo’s death was largely unnoticed and unreported by the media and the public. His invention was also forgotten and overshadowed by the later developments of espresso machines by other inventors. His name and contribution to the history of coffee were only rediscovered and recognized by historians and coffee enthusiasts in recent years.
On June 6, 2022, Google commemorated Moriondo with a Doodle on his 171st birthday, honoring his invention and legacy.
Conclusion
Angelo Moriondo was an Italian inventor who patented the first espresso machine in 1884. His invention changed the way coffee was brewed and consumed, and inspired the modern coffee culture. However, his death in 1914 was mysterious and obscure, and his invention was neglected and eclipsed by the later espresso machines. Moriondo deserves more recognition and appreciation for his innovation and vision.
