Coffee lovers must dream about their trips to Italy, sitting at an Italian cafe, and enjoying their favorite espresso. Nothing can beat this pleasure.
Non-lovers may be curious about this. They are curious when people still choose Italian espresso over others while they use the same ingredients and brewing method. So why is Italian coffee so good?
This article will reveal the answer. You can also learn some tips to sip Italian coffee in an Italian way. Let’s dig into the coffee world!
Why Is Italian Coffee So Good?
Italian is good, flavorful, and special because of its unique roasting method. Moreover, despite its popularity and variations worldwide, it has stayed the same taste and aroma.
Roasting method
Baristas classify the roasting process into four groups, each having a particular method:
- Light roast
- Medium roast
- Medium-dark roast
- Dark roast
The light roast is the quickest method, while the dark roast takes the most time. So what is the case of Italian coffee?
Italians are famous for having a high tolerance for bitterness but fall short in espresso’s sourness.
Most coffee drinkers across the world prefer the slightly sour flavor, but not in Italy. Italians want their espresso to be moderately bitter but not overly sour.
Italians roast coffee beans for much longer than the rest of the world to accomplish this trick. Then, they sacrifice the more complex flavors of lighter roasts to get a much simpler yet bitter one.
No influence from other cultures
Even though Italian cuisine is well-known worldwide and has thus experienced many variations, Italian cuisine has remained the same over time.
Italian people have a realistic perspective of coffee, unlike those in other countries that only see it as a leisure beverage.
Coffee is an essential part of Italian daily life and culture. The country has a rich tradition of making coffee. It even has formed a coffee culture that places a value on taste and ritual.
In addition, this emphasis on culture helps people become highly knowledgeable and skilled in the art of brewing coffee.
Freshness
Italian coffee shops and cafés keep changing their stock of coffee; thus, the beans are much less likely to sit for too long.
Moreover, Italian coffee shops follow standards strictly to ensure the freshness of their java. This task involves checking the safety zone of the coffee beans and discarding the old ones.
Experience
We talked about how special Italian coffee is. However, some individuals mistakenly think espresso has different flavors because of how the brain perceives tastes and mostly the placebo effect.
Italian coffee undoubtedly differs from other coffees worldwide. But one of the main reasons Italian coffee tastes so unique is the sensation of drinking there.
Overall, drinking Italian coffee may be a thrilling and unforgettable experience owing to the blend of flavor, aroma, caffeine content, and the belief that you are drinking something special.
Hot served
Although some people don’t want their coffee served hot, Italians consider it a signature and part of their culture.
Compared to coffee from other countries in the world, hot Italian coffee has a robust and rich flavor that is usually more potent.
High-quality coffee beans, conventional roasting techniques, and competent baristas combine to provide a flavor you won’t forget.
Due to its high caffeine level, hot Italian coffee may also provide an immediate energy boost. It will make your morning and busy day more enjoyable.
Is Italian Coffee Stronger?
Italian coffee is often stronger than java in other regions of the world because of the following reasons:
Blend
Italian coffee is a combination of Robusta and Arabica coffee beans. Robusta beans have a higher caffeine content, contributing to the strong overall flavor.
Preparation
We usually serve Italian coffee as espresso shots, which are more concentrated and smaller than a regular cup of coffee. It means that a smaller serving of Italian coffee has the same amount of caffeine and coffee as a bigger cup of regular coffee.
Roasting
The roasting method makes Italian coffee special and also gives it an intense flavor. The higher roasting temperature leads to a bold taste.
Rules of Italian Coffee Culture
Drinking coffee is a culture in Italy. To have a full experience of taking Italian espresso, check out these rules:
One size fits all
Italian coffee cups won’t have complicated sizes. Instead, each type of espresso in this country has a single-size cup.
For example, espresso comes in small cups with a little top flare. On the other hand, cups for cappuccinos are circular and moderate in size.
Sizes for Italian coffee are small. However, you will get the best of your buck because java is dense and has a high caffeine content.
How to order
To get the coffee you would like in Italy, you must be quite precise about it. For instance, in Italy, if you say a “latte,” you’ll probably get a glass of milk instead.
Similarly, to order a cappuccino, you must request “cappuccino” rather than just a “coffee with milk.”
Here is a list of coffees and their Italian names:
- Espresso: ‘un caffe’
- Espresso with more water: ‘un caffè lungo’
- Double espresso: ‘un caffè doppio’
- Americano: americano
- Latte: ‘caffe latte’
How to pay
When you place an order for your coffee in Italy, you will often receive your coffee plus a little piece of paper. When you finish, take the paper to the cashier to pay for your drink.
However, some Italian coffee shops these days use bills instead. However, to many people, the paper makes their experience more enjoyable.
Stand at the bar
There is a difference in pricing between drinking coffee at the bar and sitting at a table in most Italian cafes.
Due to the opportunity to talk with the barista and watch other diners, standing at the bar is a more sociable and authentic manner to enjoy the Italian coffee culture.
No to-go cups
Takeaway coffee is a common way to drink coffee in many cultures. However, Italian people don’t like it. They prefer sitting at a cafe and standing at a bar.
Morning drink
According to Italian tradition, coffee with milk is a morning drink. A traditional Italian breakfast often has a pastry and a cappuccino. Italians believe that drinking milk in their coffee after lunch and dinner is too heavy.
Water before coffee
To fully enjoy the flavor of authentic Italian coffee, you should drink water first to cleanse your palate. Then, it will be ready to help you appreciate the espresso’s taste.
In Italy, the barista gives you a little glass of water if you ask for a coffee. However, in some cases, you need to request it separately and pay for it then. But don’t worry because it won’t cost much.
This video will show you more traditions regarding Italian coffee:
Conclusion
Italian coffee is good due to its roasting method and fresh coffee beans. The culture’s emphasis on espresso as a daily ritual has also contributed to the expansion of Italian coffee-making over time.
There are also some interesting cultures to learn about when discovering Italian-style coffee. Do you know any more rules? Remember to share with us before you leave.