Italian Coffee and Culture

An Italian’s day is situated around coffee

The morning starts with a Cappuccino, this wonderfully frothy coffee is typically consumed before 11am. It’s a general rule that milky coffees are for mornings only and are never drank after a meal.

The afternoon brings the Caffe Macchiato into play. This Italian coffee contains much less milk than other types and is usually served in a demitasse cup. Due to its smaller size, it’s not uncommon for a few cups to be enjoyed throughout the afternoon.

After dinner, Espresso’s are common place, but be warned – it’s not called an Espresso in Italy! Called Caffe (coffee), or Caffe Normale (normal coffee), this type is served black and enjoyed in small doses. It’s likely you’ll discover people sipping it all throughout the day, however it’s often the go to after dinner drink.

No time for latte art

Italian coffee is served fast and it’s truly a wonder to watch the master baristas during a rush period. Due to the quick nature of the creation, you won’t find any latte art on your drinks, but that doesn’t mean that there’s a compromise when it comes to flavour. One thing for sure is that no matter where in Italy you stop for your coffee, the taste will always be consistently delicious.

A cup for every coffee

In Italy, you’ll discover that each coffee type has its own precise glass or cup, so don’t expect to find any supersize portions here. Also, takeout is a very rare concept and the only exception is at train stations – so your standard paper to go cups won’t be found in most cafés.

Una pausa

Italians refer to a coffee break as ‘una pausa’, which translates directly to a pause. This means that Italian cafés aren’t places to stop for hours to chat with your friends or family members, but rather somewhere to quickly drink your Caffe Normale and go. And, coffee will usually be drank at the bar with the locals or perched at a tiny table.

The spiritual home of coffee

Despite Italy being the spiritual home of coffee, it may surprise you to learn that no coffee is grown there at all. The reason Italy is thought to be one of the greatest coffee hotspots of the world is the fact that their baristas and roasters are masterful with their techniques. Each individual involved in the Italian coffee process takes pride in their work and follow rigorous practices to ensure each blend and cup is as perfect as the last.

Italian coffee facts to note

The Italian coffee culture is truly full of some interesting traditions which are completely different from the way coffee is consumed in other destinations around the world. A few key coffee facts to be aware of are:

• • The type of coffee bean  that’s used largely depends on the region, however Arabica is the most common place and sometimes this is mixed with Robusta too.
• • The steam-driven espresso machine was first pioneered in Italy.
• • Italy doesn’t grow or produce any coffee beans.
• • You won’t find any coffee infused milkshakes or frappes – this is considered sacrilege to Italian coffee culture.
• • Chains are a rarity in Italy, it’s primarily dominated by independently run cafés.
• • Coffee will commonly be served with a small glass of water to cleanse the palate.
• • Italian coffee is drunk regularly and in small amounts. 

Italian coffee types

Italy is home to some of the most cherished coffee types in the whole world. A few of the most popular ones you’ll be familiar with are:

Now you know everything there is to know about Italian coffee and can drink your brew like the locals! Want to set your taste buds off on another adventure? Visit our article on Australian coffee next.