Italians and Coffee: A Love Affair
Have you ever met an Italian who isn’t a fan of coffee? That’s what we thought. Italians cannot live without coffee – it’s such a strong part of our culture. So much so that it’s somewhat become its own culture. You’ll even notice that huge global chains such as Starbucks and Costa adopted the Italian style of coffee and have made it a global phenomenon, although that’s not to say there’s a few tweaks that Italians are not particularly fond of. So, let’s take a look at the Italian coffee culture that we know and love today.
Source: Veneto Secrets
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
Coffee originated in the highlands of Ethiopia thousands of years before it took Europe by storm. Originally, coffee was almost banned in Islamic law - much like alcohol. However, once it became accepted among the religion, it began to spread across Islamic countries in Africa and Eastern Europe. Venice happened to heavily rely on trade with the Islamic east – which meant that Venetians were soon introduced to this new phenomenon in the 16th century. For a while it remained at a luxury item and was even used for medicinal purposed before it became a refreshment. The popularity of the drink took off and eventually led to the first Venetian coffeehouse opening in the 17th century – with hundreds more to follow.
THE BEANS
Now, it goes without saying the quality of your coffee will be reliant on the quality of the beans. Italian coffees mainly involve the Arabica variety of coffee beans – which are known for their full flavour and low caffeine content. You will also sometimes find these are blended with Robusta beans, which come together to create a stronger and more caffeine rich blend. The coffee of each region will vary as Northern Italian culture differs to Southern Italian culture, so we all have different tastes and preferences.
THE ESPRESSO WAS BORN
1901 saw the creation of the much-loved drink that is the espresso. Milanese inventor Luigi Bezzera wanted to make a drink that was quick to make but great at giving that extra kick you need to get going. So, he thought of forcing pressurised water through a handful of coffee powder to produce a short concentrated drink. Since, it’s fast become a go-to drink for those needing a little pick me up at the start and through-out their day. It’s become such a huge part of the Italian coffee culture that when you order a coffee, an espresso is what you’ll be served. So, be sure to ask for more if you were expecting some different!
THE UNWRITTEN RULES
There’s a few things you should know before you stroll into an Italian café and order away. For there are some unwritten rules deeply ingrained in the culture that you may be unaware of, here’s how you can drink coffee like an Italian:
BREAKFAST DRINKS - Italians steer away from coffee beverages that contain milk after lunchtime, as they feel it’s too heavy for the afternoon. Of course you’ll still get served a cappuccino if you ask for one but you may receive a funny look or two.
SIMPLICITY - It’s best to keep your order fairly simple and stay away from adding any artificial flavours or spices to your coffee. There is also no sizes in Italian cafés - so as we said just keep it simple.
TAKEAWAY ISN’T A THING - You won’t find piles of takeaway cups in cafés here, as takeaway coffee isn’t really a thing. Perhaps it’s embodying the Italian way of life: no one is in a hurry and every moment in life should be savoured.
Why not take a trip to our Albergo Miramonti - where you can enjoy some traditional Lombardy cuisine in our Restaurant Miramonti or take some time to relax in our hotel spa. Not to mention explore the Italian Alps, as there are plenty of things to do near Corteno Golgi. Before you go discover more about Northern Italian Culture from our blog: