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.

That makes me realize I didn't take Brazil or Argentina into account. I never visited Latin America in the 1970s, but with their roots, presumably they had espresso there, too.