Coffee in Italy: Don’t Go There!

I thought I was fully aware of the “don’t go there” topics…typically it’s politics and religion. However, due to the passion of the Italian people and their pride in the regions from which they come, more topics are added to the list; coffee (caffè) being one of them. Would you call a Michelangelo a doodle? Then you will know better than to underrate the importance of a good cup of coffee.

In Italy, coffee falls under the category of Art. There are various ways to make it and each region will tell you something different. It’s not just the coffee beans, it’s the way you grind them, the type and brand of moka pot to use (there are more than a few), the temperature of the burner and knowing exactly when to turn it down, looking for the prized crema across the top of the shot, as well as the temperature and amount of coffee to serve. A cup of caffè is a little over a mouthful and packs a punch! The Italians go for quality above quantity in everything. I have actually seen a few Italians dump coffee down the sink, when it wasn’t just right! ‘Tis best to take someone out for a coffee in Italy until you can master the moka pot.

In the States, for many years, coffee was purchased in large cans, and you had very few brands to choose from. It was coarsely ground and scooped into a percolator basket, boiled and dumped into a cup. Cowboy coffee was simply dumping the grounds into the bottom of a pot (no basket or filter) and boiling and reboiling, throughout the day, until the pot was empty. You had to be cowboy-tough to drink that stuff (and I’ve tried it when I lived in Montana).

Italians are proud and competitive and are very divided in their taste in wines, food and coffee. Each region of Italy will swear by their technique and gladly show you the difference of a True Italian Caffè. Your best bet is to allow yourself to be a child again. Watch in wonder and learn!

Ciao for now,

Lee Ryan