Coffee Drinking in Italy

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If ever given the chance to travel to Italy, there will be much more for you to enjoy about it than the overwhelming amounts of culture and art. You will also experience the dedication to perfect coffee and espresso. Italy has contributed much to espresso and espresso fans over the years. In fact, the espresso machine inventor, La Pavoni, was an Italian!

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While you're in Rome, if you want a coffee, you should order it as a "caffe". Likewise, if you'd like a shot of espresso. This is a small and strong shot of espresso, which is normally the term that you would use to order a coffee. Italians don't order a shot of espresso by saying "un espresso", but they will instead say "un caffe". If you would like two shots of espresso within one cup, that is called a "caffe doppio", which is the term for a double espresso.

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If you're not a fan of strong, bold espresso, order the "un caffe lungo" - the term used for adding two times the amount of water to the espresso. This will give you a similar consistency to an American cup of coffee or Americanos style of espresso. You may already be quite familiar with a cappuccino, which is made with a shot of espresso and foamed milk. The barista will froth the milk for the cappuccino by infusing air bubbles into the milk, which will give it texture and a velvety foam. A cappuccino is made of one third parts espresso, steamed milk, and foam. Using the proper ratio of foam is important when the barista is steaming the milk to create the perfect consistency of cappuccino every time. What many people don't realize is that a cappuccino is actually one of the hardest espresso beverages to capture and make properly, although you may be pleasantly surprised to find artistic shapes atop your cappuccino in the form of cappuccino art.

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The word cappuccino was actually derived from the Cappucin friars in Italy, and it may refer to the dark color of their robes in contrast to their white heads, which was often surrounded by a ring of their brown hair. In Italy, it is customary to drink cappuccino before 11 am only, since it's considered to be mainly just a morning beverage. As a tourist, however, you can do whatever you want!

For another authentic treat, you may want to try the macchiato, which is named after the Italian word for "stained". In actuality, this drink is made from a shot of espresso that is stained with a few drops of steamed milk.

Overall, it is best to enjoy your cappuccino with a pastry treat for breakfast, and it is important to understand that you may pay significantly more for your espresso beverage if you are in a tourist location. Many times, you can find a wonderful hidden gem in Italy of a café; off of the beaten path that will serve you fresh and authentic espresso at an affordable price! When in Rome...

Coffee Drinking in Italy

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