Italy and Espresso
Ah, coffee! It’s an essential start to the day for many people. However, in Italy, coffee is something more, a cultural mainstay.
Italy Is the Home of Espresso
Coffee came to Europe in the 17th century, but it wasn’t until late in the 19th Century that Italy introduced the world to espresso. This became possible with the invention of a steam-driven coffee-making machine.
What Is Espresso?
Espresso is not the name given to a particular coffee bean or kind of roast. Rather, it’s a way of brewing very finely ground and compacted beans very quickly, with high-temperature water, at very high pressure. Cappuccino is espresso and milk, and the name comes from the color of the robes of Capuchin monks. There are many varieties of espresso to choose from:
Caffé macchiato - stained with a swirl of milk.
Caffé corretto - with a shot of cognac or grappa.
Shakerato - espresso shaken in a cocktail shaker with ice until it gets foamy and the ice melts and crystalizes. Served in a goblet.
Granita di caffé - a frozen mix of coffee, sugar, and water served with a big dollop of whipped cream on top. This is a delicious dessert!
Italian Coffee Customs
Italian coffee culture has much to do with when and where the beverage is consumed. For example, according to Italian custom, cappuccino is considered a breakfast drink and should never be consumed after late morning. This unwritten law derives from a national obsession with digestion.
In Rome, an espresso or cappuccino is often served in a glass - many Romans believe it tastes better than in a porcelain cup.
One widespread ritual is drinking coffee while standing at a bar and having a friendly chat with the barista.
Italy Has a University of Coffee
The University of Coffee is owned by the Illy coffee company (illycaffè) based in Trieste. It offers courses for coffee producers, coffee bar managers, and baristas. You can learn the best way to prepare Italy's signature coffee beverage.
Let’s End Our Italian Journey With a Visit to Rome’s Oldest Café
Caffé Greco was founded in 1760 and is the second oldest café in Italy, the first being Caffé Florian in Venice. Café Greco serves very high-quality coffee and was a favorite hangout of writers from all over Europe and even Russia, including Byron, Gogol, Keats, Shelley, and Stendhal. On any hot summer afternoon, the opulent Caffé Greco will be full of tourists sitting on long seats upholstered in red velvet. Someone might even be seated on the couch that was once owned by Hans Christian Andersen, who lived upstairs for a time. The drinkers sip their coffee served to them on small marble tables while taking in the fine 18th-century landscape paintings hanging on the damask-covered walls.
Unfortunately, we hear that both of these storied landmarks are in danger of closing because of the recent lack of tourists due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
La Fine.
We hope you’ve enjoyed your glimpse into Italy’s coffee culture, particularly with regard to espresso. If you want the best beans to make your own espresso, please visit Operant Coffee’s online store. All of our dark roasted beans are Fair Trade Certified and environmentally friendly. You will also receive a fun “operant” fact on your label of choice!