A little reason to celebrate
National Espresso Day
Drink ยท November 23
A day for espresso, the small, strong coffee made by forcing hot water through finely ground beans under pressure.
National Espresso Day falls on Monday, November 23, 2026. That is 27 days away.
Espresso is coffee made by pushing hot water through a tightly packed puck of finely ground beans under pressure. The result is a small, concentrated shot with a layer of golden foam on top, called crema.
It is a drink built for attention. A shot is gone in a few sips, and in that time it can taste chocolatey, bright, bitter or sweet, depending on the beans and the roast. Many people drink it standing at a counter, the way it is often served in Italy, where espresso is an everyday habit rather than an occasion.
Espresso is also the base of a long list of other drinks. Add steamed milk and foam and you have a cappuccino or a latte. Add hot water and it becomes an Americano. A macchiato is a shot marked with a spoonful of milk foam. Ordering a plain shot now and then lets you taste what all those drinks are built on.
At home, people make espresso with pump machines, lever machines or stovetop moka pots (which brew a strong coffee close to espresso, though at lower pressure). Grind size matters a great deal. Too coarse and the shot runs thin and sour, too fine and it drips slowly and turns harsh.
A good shot is best drunk soon after it is pulled, before the crema fades.
Ways to celebrate
- Order a single shot and taste it plainly before adding anything.
- Try a drink you rarely order, like a macchiato or an Americano.
- Brew a pot of coffee on a stovetop moka pot at home.
- Ask a barista which beans they are pulling today and why.
- Compare two shots from different cafes side by side.
Things for the day
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Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Monday, November 23 |
| 2027 | Tuesday, November 23 |
| 2028 | Thursday, November 23 |
| 2029 | Friday, November 23 |
| 2030 | Saturday, November 23 |
All national days on November 23
Also on November 23
Categories: Drink days