That potent espresso shot may go beyond just getting a morning jolt

Espresso could be good for you – in ways that go beyond that morning jolt to get your head in gear for the day ahead. — CHRISTIN KLOSE/dpa

SINCE the drink was invented in Italy in the late 19th century, offering a new way to get a hard-and-fast coffee hit while racing to work, espresso has become a multi-billion dollar industry.

And while the full-on impact and often bitter taste of the small-but-potent shot is not to everybody’s liking, the espresso nonetheless is the foundation for those bigger and more ornate drinks, from the humble Americano to the dessert-like chocolatey creamy hyper-decorative variants.