We know that most words to describe coffee come from the Italian language. Caffe latte, macchiato, and cappuccino, for example. While French may be the language of love, Italian is clearly the language of coffee! Let's find out how you can make the best Italian coffee. Not only that, but how do you drink it like a local? Nobody wants to walk into a coffee shop in a foreign country and be labeled a foreigner because of their lack of knowledge!
Let's see how coffee is embedded into Italy's culture and find out an Italian coffee recipe so you can make your own.
Italy's Coffee Culture
Coffee is a huge part of the culture in Italy and the country imports around 8 million bags each year!
Generally, Italians prefer to drink coffee in the mornings with their breakfast. Rather than going to a cafe (which is the Italian word for "coffee") they head to a coffee bar. There, they can pick up the best Italian coffee.
They might pop into their local bar and order a quick coffee and a pastry. As Italian coffee consists of a single shot of espresso in a small cup, it doesn't take long to drink. For this reason, most people don't spend much time in the coffee bars - they knock back the coffee then leave!
Italians short on cash can save money by drinking their coffee standing up. Most coffee bars charge extra to use their tables and chairs!
Italians continue their daily ritual with a couple more cups of coffee. They follow their breakfast cappuccino with a caffè macchiato in the afternoon. Their final coffee of the day is an espresso, which they take after dinner.
To avoid looking like a tourist, don't order a cappuccino unless it's the morning! And don't ask for a latte, because it translates into "milk". (And that's exactly what you'll be served!)
The way that Italians make their coffee depends on where they're drinking it. At home, they would usually use a traditional moka pot. If they visit a bar, that bar will likely use a modern espresso coffee machine.
History of Italian Coffee
Year 1570
Venice first began trading coffee. The Italians have the Egyptians to thank for introducing coffee beans to them. Wealthy people in Venice paid a lot of money for this rare and exciting new drink.
At first, many Italians saw coffee as a sinful drink, because of its eastern roots. They viewed it as a threat to Christianity, although this thought quickly faded out and its popularity grew.
Year 1683
The first coffee shop was opened and was located in San Marco Square. Patrons flocked to the coffee shop because of the atmosphere, good drinks, and comfortable surroundings.
Year 1901
The espresso was born. Espresso translates literally into "express". The inventor, Luigi Bezzara, must have wanted a quick way to his caffeine fix!
Year 1905
With the success of the espresso, a man called Desidero Pavoni wanted to take things further. He invented the first espresso machine, The Ideale. The Ideale looked very different to the machines we see today!
Year 1930's and 1940's
The drinking of Italian coffee consumption declined. This was down to restrictions on importations as well as wartime rationing.
Today
Nowadays, Italian coffee continues to be a big part of the culture. The preferred choice is unwashed Brazilian coffee beans. By 1990, Robusta coffee beans accounted for 44% of the coffee imports.
How to Make the Best Italian Coffee
A good Italian coffee has to be made with the best Italian coffee beans. This doesn't describe beans that come from Italy, since Italy imports most of its coffee. Instead, we get the best results by choosing beans that are well matched with espressos.
Go for 100% Arabica beans that have been recently roasted. A dark roast is a good choice for the best Italian coffee and the beans should look smooth and shiny. Regions like Columbia, java, and Sumatra produce coffee beans where you can be confident of the quality.
They say that the simple Italian espresso is the purest form of coffee. Let's look at the best way to make the drink if you don't have an espresso machine.
You will need:
- Coffee beans
- Grinder
- Moka pot and stove top
- Kettle
- Timer
- Espresso cups
| The Method |
|---|---|
1. | Grind 20-22 grams of coffee. The consistency should be similar to that of sugar granules.  |
2. | Boil water and pour it into the bottom section of your Moka pot. |
3. | Add the ground coffee into the filter basket of the Moka pot. Shake it gently so that the grounds even themselves out. Assemble the Moka pot. |
4. | Place your Moka pot on the stove top and set it to a medium heat. When the water begins to boil, the pressure will push a stream of coffee up into the top chamber. When you hear a hissing sound, the coffee is brewed. |
5. | Pour it into your espresso cup and enjoy your homemade Italian roast coffee, in the most authentic way! |
Types of Italian Coffee
Options are always good! Let's take a look at some other Italian coffee types and you can decide which one to try next. It's also a great way to brush up on your knowledge of the Italian language!
1. Caffè
Translates to "coffee"
When ordering this, you're essentially asking for a shot of espresso or an Italian coffee.
2. Cappuccino
Translates to ... "cappuccino"
This drink consists of espresso, foam and steamed milk. Italians believe that cappuccino affects your digestion. For this reason, they usually drink it before 11 AM.
3. Macchiato
Translates to "spotted"
A macchiato is an espresso that is "spotted" with a couple of drops of hot milk. It's foamy, but not as frothy as a cappuccino.
4. Caffè latte
Translates to "coffee with milk"
A glass of caffè latte will have as much as 2/3 hot milk in it, as well as a shot of espresso and some foam. Again, this would be an early morning drink for most Italians.
5. Shakerato
Translates to "shaken"
A shakerato is the drink of the summer, as it's basically an iced coffee. To make the drink, pour chilled espresso over ice and then shake it until frothy.
6. Caffè al Ginseng
Translates to "Ginseng coffee"
Ginseng is a nutty, natural sweetener that is good for the digestion.
You don't need to add any extra sugar to this drink, just combine the espresso with ginseng.
The Bottom Line
If you're ever in Italy, I recommend heading to a coffee bar and experiencing it for yourself. Save money by drinking as you stand up. And if you do want to order a frothy coffee after 11 AM, go for it!
Italian coffee is just a pure shot of espresso. There's no hiding any mistakes, so Italian baristas must be skilled and passionate about the drink. Now you can make your own from home, or use your new Italian words to order one out!
