1932: La San Marco starts a trend towards art-deco design in machines with the introduction of the La San Marco 900. Every company would move to this design style.

1936: Simonelli founded ( later sold and called Nuova Simonelli). Now just called Simonelli again.

Old Gaggia Commercial Lever

1947: Gaggia introduces the revolutionary piston lever Crema Caffe machine, and modern day espresso in the commercial establishment is born. Many will follow.

1948: Gaggia introduces the Classica, a 2 group version of the Crema Caffe. La Pavoni and other companies introduce new machines based loosely on Gaggia's revolutionary piston lever system. These produce a drink much closer to today's espresso.

1950: Elektra experiments with hydraulic pressure machines.

1950's: Officine Maffioletto makes one of the first machines capable of brewing real pressure espresso, but in the home. It was a piston model with a 1 litre capacity.

1950: Piston operated machines, both spring action and direct pressure, many direct copies of Gaggia's ground breaking Crema machines, flood the market and make modern day espresso common.

Gaggia Lever machine

1956: Gaggia Gilda machine, not marketed for, but suitable for home use, is brought to market - a dual lever piston single group machine.

1958: La Marzocco Crema Espress single group lever machine introduced - not marketed for domestic use, but could be used as such due to the size.

1961: Faema introduces a very revolutionary machine, the E61 - the first heat exchanger, rotary pump driven espresso machine. No more levers; Elektra Micro Casa a Leva and La Pavoni Europiccola Lever machine for the home are introduced. Micro Casa had "steam on demand" ability.

1966: Alfred Peet opens first Peets Coffee in Berkeley,CA, later serves as inspiration for the founding of Starbucks by visiting Seattlites.

1971: Starbucks first opens in Seattle's Pike Place Market as a Coffee Roastery.

1974: La Pavoni Professional Lever machine for the home introduced. Pavoni introduces "instant steam" and brew machine.

1982: SCAA founded. Originally called the Specialty Coffee Advisory Board, or SCAB; they would soon change their name to something more aesthetically pleasing to the ear.

1983: Howard Schultz of Starbucks travels to Italy, becomes immersed in espresso culture.

1985: Howard Schultz leaves Starbucks and starts Il Giornale coffee bar chain, complete with espresso machines.

1987: Schultz buys Starbuck's and rebrands the Il Giornale outlets as Starbucks. Expansion quickly follows.

1989: Acorto brings to market the world's first complete and marketable commercial super automatic machine, including ground-breaking features such as the self-contained refrigeration system for milk, and different frothing choices on demand. Starbucks opens its first store outside of the Seattle area (and out of the country) at Waterfront station in Vancouver, BC, Canada. A Chicago store also opens the same year.

1990: Rancilio introduces the Rocky grinder, a grinder that blurs the line between commercial and home grinding appliances.

1990: Saeco brings out the world's first super-automatic (bean to cup in one step) designed specifically for home and small office use.

1992: Illy collector cups first introduced, bringing artistry to the cup itself, as well as to what's inside the cup.

1994: Solis brings the SL-70 consumer espresso machine to market, one of the first successful automatic espresso machines for the home.

1997: Rancilio introduces the Silvia espresso machine (a redesigned, revamped Rancilio Nancy), and starts a trend towards better, more professional machines for the consumer. ECM markets the now famous Giotto, one of a new wave of prosumer, heat exchanger-equipped machines for consumers instead of commercial businesses.