Pre-1990s American espresso was too abrasive to consume without milk or sugar
Todd Carmichael · La Colombe Coffee Roasters: Todd Carmichael and J.P. Iberti. A Brotherhood Built on Coffee (2020) · Jan 12, 2026 · at 40:20
Todd Carmichael, co-founder of La Colombe Coffee Roasters, discusses why he and J.P. Iberti sought to create sweeter, more balanced coffee blends when launching in 1994.
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“Because espresso in America up to that point was an abrasive liquid. It was not to be consumed without tons of sugar or milk on it.”
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