There's some failure to comprehend the ubiquity of espresso in Italy here.

When I was a kid, espresso was practically unavailable outside Southern Europe. In Italy, every household had, as they still do, a stovetop espresso maker. In Italy, every city corner had, as it still does, a bar serving espresso.

Whatever Italians consider good espresso, we - who grew up on filter coffee, which Italians do not drink - probably ought to defer.

Is there a better espresso somewhere? Perhaps.

Is it conceivable that Italian espresso is terrible? Nope.

The proposition is as absurd as claiming that Japanese sushi is subpar, or that Swedish dammsugare are the world's worst.

Definitly, as Portuguese I think we do share some expresso mentality with Italy, even some regional words for coffee are derived from Italian machine brands, and the same complaint regarding expresso when abroad, with exception when visiting Italy :).

I can assure that at least since the 1970's there was hardly any household without a stovetop espresso maker.