Although coffee trees grow in equatorial environments, ergo, not native to Italy, the Bel Paese has taken the beverage’s potential to its own by introducing preparation methods that become the aroma of coffee beans.
Legend says that, after tasting coffee, Pope Clement VIII said: “This is such a delicious beverage that it would be a sin to let it be drunk only by non-believers. We shall vanquish Satan by giving it our blessing to make it a really Christian drink.”
After that, coffee soon spread all over Italy, either in elegant coffee shops or more humble, homely establishments. It became a ritual enjoyed by everyone, including artists, politicians, and writers.
In time, coffee has turned into an integral part of Italian culture, with no less than eight million bags imported annually. Italians drink coffee either at home, where it’s usually made in a moka pot (the subject of another of our articles) or in cafés, restaurants, and workplaces, where it's dispensed from espresso coffee makers that vary in size.
Coffee trivia: Venice began trading coffee around 1570, and the first coffee shop was opened in St. Mark’s Square in 1683.
Popular Coffee Brews in Italy
The Italians are to thank for the way the rest of the world confects, serves and imbibes coffee, from the expressions (like “cappuccino,” “latte,” and “macchiato”) to the famous, steam-driven espresso machine, to the stylish brands (Illy and Lavazza). If coffee has a cultural home, then this must be it.
When visiting Italy, you could take one or two things into consideration if you’d planning on to attend a café. First things first, don’t ask for big, complex, sugary, brews, this is another culture that takes coffee into a different approach.
Most Italian coffee orders can be made just with a single word. For instance, a caffè is a strong shot of espresso (ironically, the term “espresso” is rarely used in Italian coffee bar parlance), while macchiato is an espresso with a dash of steamed milk. An americano is an espresso with added hot water making for a slightly longer drink. The king of all white coffees is none other than the ever-iconic cappuccino, an espresso topped with warm frothy milk with an optional sprinkling of chocolate.
Unique Italian Coffee Brews
Around the world, coffee culture allows room for a few minor variations; some of them, regional. In Italy, make room for trying things like the caffè corretto, which is an espresso “corrected” with a shot of liquor, like grappa, and is taken mid to late noon. A doppio is a double espresso, recommendable if you’re hungover or sleep-deprived. A ristretto is a short, strong espresso with less water but equal potency. And a cappuccino scuro is a cappuccino made with less milk.
Another Italian original, the bicerin, is a specialty of the Piedmont region, often sold in Turin, and has been around for at least 200 years. It consists of layered espresso, hot chocolate, and milk, all served in a glass. Not quite different is the marocchino, another Piedmontese invention, a mix of espresso, cocoa powder and frothy milk. Popular among youngsters is cioccolata calda (hot chocolate) which, in the true spirit of la dolce vita, is dark, dense and delicious.
When (Drinking Coffee) in Rome, Remember…
- In most bars, coffee is often served with a small glass of water. The water is supposed to be drunk first to cleanse the palate and better the taste
- In some busy bars (those found in train stations, i.e.), you must pay for your coffee upfront at a till and then show the receipt to the barista
- It's common for Italians to drink coffee in small amounts. Seven or eight espressos a day is not an oddity to them
- Coffee in Italy is more on the cheap side. If you’re paying more than €2 for a cup, you’re being robbed
- Italy’s best coffee city is a subject of debate that could restart the Risorgimento, but some top notch cafés can be located in Turin (home of Lavazza) or Trieste (home of Illy)
Prendiamo un caffè? Hope you liked our article! We write with passion, dedication and of course, love for coffee! Leave your comments and questions on the section below, and follow us on our That Coffee Roasters social networks.
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