Depends where. In Italy they simply refer to it as caffè. Everything else needs explanation and has espresso in it, in one form or another be it an Americano, Corretto, Caffelatte, Macchiato, Caffè con Panna. The list goes on. Many people in N.A. thought of it as a small coffee which one drank quickly and thus conveys the word "express" or quickly or even to express or squeeze coffee from grounds. Definitely espresso and not expresso but I do understand the mixup. I have a few Italian vintage lever machines.
Have you seen those 16-bar hand-press espresso machines? Called "Hand-presso", they look pretty good and I'm usually skeptical about "convenience" gadgets, particularly when it's to do with coffee.
Yes, friend has one and I've tried it. They take an ESE pod as opposed to loose grinds. Not bad but not for me as I don't need more gadgets. Water has to be heated to proper temp by another source making it not so convenient.
