This Is Italy
Delicious of course, such a freshly brewed cup of Italian coffee. But do you actually know where your Italian coffee comes from?
The origin of coffee in Italy lies with the Venetians. Before that, the coffee was served in Venetian shops and only later came the coffee houses and cafes. The drink was so popular that in Venice even a maximum number of cafes to capture. Italy owes its coffee fame mainly to the invention of the espresso machine.
Italian coffees
The most famous Italian coffee brand is Illy, a coffee roaster based in Trieste, which also sells espresso machines. Lavazza coffee, made in Turin, is also gaining popularity.
Italy is the land of espresso and is one of the largest exporters of roasted coffee. Italy itself is the tenth largest consumer of coffee. Italian coffee can be found all over the world. So you really don't necessarily have to travel to Italy for this. You can find Italian coffee in coffee bars throughout the Netherlands, but also in supermarkets or specialized coffee shops.
The coffee bars
In Italy you will find coffee bars on every street corner. You order an Italian coffee at the bar (al banco) and that is cheaper than when you sit on the terrace. You pay immediately with your order and then receive your receipt that you give to the barista who makes the coffee.
For an espresso in the morning, you only need three seconds to spare, because it's just one sip. After lunch you order another espresso and take a little more time than the three seconds of that morning. Just ask for a caffè and the Italians already know you're talking about an espresso
strong bucket
Do you like your coffee a little stronger? Then ask for a caffè doppio, a double espresso or a caffè ristretto: a stronger espresso than the regular one. For those who like it less strong, order a caffè lungo that contains more water.
Espresso is not just any coffee and has to meet certain requirements. The espresso beans are roasted longer than the normal ones. This then makes their color darker and the taste is also stronger. An espresso should be made from six to seven ounces of fine Arabica coffee.
Arabica
Coffee from Arabica beans originates from Ethiopia and offers high quality coffee. The barista then presses 30 millimeters of water through the fine Arabica coffee at a temperature of 88°C. The espresso has a soft foam layer with a hazelnut brown to dark brown color. The smell is attractive, the taste firm and round.
Cappuccino after eleven
As an Italy expert, you already knew that a cappuccino after breakfast is actually not done. That is only for tourists. So you don't want to be immediately unmasked as a tourist, but do you want coffee with frothed milk? Then you simply order a latte macchiato: lots of milk and a little coffee is a worthy alternative that you can order throughout the day without looking crooked.
Coffee specialties
In various regions in Italy there are also more special coffees. For example, in Rome there is the espresso romano with a few drops of lemon. And in Turin the bicerin, a mix of coffee, chocolate, milk and cream.
Which Italian coffee do you prefer?
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