Italian coffee – normally called just Espresso – is not just a simple drink: it’s a ritual and a way of life.
Italians drink coffee often during the day. When we wake up, usually with a cornetto (similar to the French croissant) or some other sweet pastry, and in the late morning for a pick-me-up. After lunch – sometimes after dinner, as well – as a way to ‘close’ the meal.
Espresso coffee is served in a small cup – with or without sugar, depending on one’s preference – and knocked back almost boiling hot. Italians don’t do ‘take away’ when it comes to coffee, but Espresso is drank on the go: instead of sitting down, we drink it standing by the bar’s counter, ready to leave in just a gulp or two.
Espresso coffee, just like our famously long lunches and dinners, is born of a strong need for conviviality, a widespread and celebrated aspect of our culture.
We take five minutes’ breaks from our jobs just to relax and savour an Espresso coffee together. We sit at the table with our coffee just a bit longer once the meal is over, talking and enjoying each-other’s company. As silly as it might sound, small things like an Espresso or a glass of wine are the glue that holds Italian culture together.
Espresso coffee is often an ingredient for other drinks, both alcoholic and not, the most famous of which is another staple of Italian culinary tradition: Cappuccino, a breakfast drink made with a shot of Espresso and milk.
Quite common, amongst the alcoholic drinks, is the Espresso Martini, a cold cocktail with Vodka, coffee liquor, sugar syrup and Espresso coffee.
Espresso is also used in desserts and cakes. Most notably, it’s one of the main ingredients of Tiramisù, possibly the most well-known Italian dessert in the world.
Fun fact: coffee is the second most drunk beverage in the world (the first being water). Despite what you might think, the country that consumes more coffee per year is not Italy, but Finland!