They Called It “Coffee Scum” — Now We Pay Extra for It
They once rejected espresso because of this foam.
Called “coffee scum,” it later became crema — and changed coffee forever.
Today? We chase it. Photograph it. Pay $7 for it.
This video tells the story of how espresso’s most iconic feature—crema—went from coffee scum to a global luxury. Born out of dangerous steam machines, mechanical levers, and high-pressure engineering, crema changed how coffee looked, tasted, and was judged.
From early Italian inventors to modern espresso science, this is the story of how pressure transformed coffee forever—and why the search for the perfect shot never ends.
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Coffee didn’t evolve. It was engineered.
⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – Coffee Was Too Slow
The industrial problem that started it all
01:05 – Five Minutes Was Unacceptable
Factories, workers, and the demand for instant coffee
02:00 – Steam Enters the Café
Early espresso inventors and dangerous boilers
03:20 – Steampunk Monsters Behind the Counter
Exploding pressure, burnt coffee, and risk
04:30 – The Lever That Changed Everything
Achille Gaggia and the end of steam
06:00 – “Coffee Scum” Is Born
The discovery of crema and public backlash
07:10 – The Machine Takes Over
The Faema E61 and electric pumps
08:20 – From Italy to Starbucks
Global expansion of espresso culture
09:10 – Espresso Becomes Science
Third Wave coffee and modern precision
09:45 – The God Shot
Why the pursuit never ends
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1 Comment
Be honest: When you see that foam (crema) on top of your coffee, do you think it looks delicious or does it look like 'scum' to you? Achille Gaggia almost went broke because people hated it! Let’s settle this in the comments. 👇"