TheMonk Senior Member Joined: 9 Dec 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Pittsburgh Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Thu Dec 11, 2008, 1:38pm Subject: Coffee in Italy
To all:
HELP! I will be traveling to Rome in the next two weeks (my first time overseas) and am looking forward to experiencing a new world of coffee. If anyone can please provide some tips on how to order, what should I try if I get the chance, anything to be careful of, etc. I appreciate your input. Thanks!
Sounds cool, but you can get great spro just about anywhere in Italia without spending a fortune. It's supposed to be cheap!
Hints about Italian tradition, to avoid looking like a rube:
1) Coffee drinks are intended for different times of the day. Traditionally, you take cappuccino with breakfast, macchiato for the mid-morning, & from noon onwards, straight espresso. Like all things, this custom is changing gradually.
2) The word "latte" means just "milk" to them -- our latte (or flat white) is not on most Italian coffee menus, so don't ask for it. On my first trip to Venice I asked for a latte and got a glass of hot milk. D'OH!
Note that not all coffee in Italy is as fresh or high quality as what we're used to with artisan roasters. For ex., if there's a Lavazza sign in the window, lower your expectations. Also, they often do not use 100% Arabica blends, and blends with Robusta can be a little harsh on the palate. Hence the popular use of zucchero (sugar).
TheMonk Senior Member Joined: 9 Dec 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Pittsburgh Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Fri Dec 12, 2008, 6:52am Subject: Re: Coffee in Italy
Wayne
That's a huge help. Is Italy more or less an espresso nation; will I be able to get a good cup of drip or press? Forgive me if this question is not posed correctly, I'm new to the world coffee outside Starbucks and the local gas station and still trying to learn. Thanks again!
mannyr Senior Member Joined: 29 Apr 2007 Posts: 27 Location: California Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic Grinder: Ascaso mini Roaster: Behmor
Posted Fri Dec 12, 2008, 8:55am Subject: Re: Coffee in Italy
Jonathan:
Just got back from a week in rome and florence, so here are my two euros.
It is true that Italians are very specific about what they drink at what time of day. What really surprised me is that in a country that has such a caffe vixation, most of what you will get is very fair. If you drink it in a caffee latte or cappucino, the addition of the steamed milk makes these quite tasty. However, I have had much better espresso in the US than in most cafes in Italy. Part of that may be the fact that most Italian blends use a large amount of robusto. But what you have to look at is the whole package. The experience of drinking your little cup of caffe (espresso) next to an Italian while standing at a little bar in rome or florence can't be beat.
also note that the Italians think americans like watered down coffee. most of the coffee you will have at your hotel will be unpalatable unless you ask them to make you a caffe or cappucino with breakfast. hope this helps and have a great trip
Posted Fri Dec 12, 2008, 9:54am Subject: Re: Coffee in Italy
mannyr Said:
also note that the Italians think americans like watered down coffee. most of the coffee you will have at your hotel will be unpalatable unless you ask them to make you a caffe or cappucino with breakfast.
That reminds me, the Italians have what they call a Caffe Americano, which is a shot of espresso diluted with hot water -- the Americano can be quite good when you feel like something like presspot or drip coffee. All bets are off when it comes to hotel coffee, btw; they're the most likely to use super-automatics (ick).
For some reason, the Pantheon neighborhood in Rome is noted for its exceptional coffeeshops (NB: espresso is also typically served in bars). The locals say it's because of their water, which is supposed to be very pure.
TheMonk Senior Member Joined: 9 Dec 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Pittsburgh Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Thu Jan 8, 2009, 8:12am Subject: Re: Coffee in Italy
Ciao Everyone
I just arrived back in the States this past Monday night. Italy is indeed an espresso nation. Here's a curious note, I was on this trip with monks from a local monastery and we stayed in a monastery while in Rome. We had some awful drip, as AJ said might be the case, in the morning from a large vat (the need for caffeine over ruled good sense of taste, however). For pronzo and supper there was available a standard size urn full of espresso.
Whomever said that good espresso was available everywhere was correct. We spent a couple of days traveling to the mountains in Nursia and Monte Cassino and stopped for breakfast on the way at an Autogrill, effectively a standard road-side service station as on the turnpike. Excellent croissants, cappucino, and espresso. At least according to my as yet undeveloped taste buds.
Thank you all for your input, I was at ease ordering and knowing what I was receiving, when and how to consume it. If there are any questions please ask.
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