Coffee may not have originated from Italy; however some may be fooled into believing so because of their rich Italian coffee culture. Italians are incredibly passionate about coffee and they revolve a large part of their daily traditions around this stimulant drink, have specific rules when you should drink certain coffee varieties and have a variety of bars and baristas that they regularly visit. Read on to find out more.

Coffee was first introduced to Italy with the coffee bean arriving at ports in Venice in the sixteenth century. In the eighteenth century coffee houses (or ‘bars’ as Italians call them) opened and became increasingly popular. Today Italians generally frequent coffee bars at several times of the day, in the morning, afternoon and at night as an after dinner drink. These coffee bars are where Italians come to socialise and enjoy one of their favourite refreshments.

The Italian coffee culture is so massive that it is often a way Italians make new friendships and business acquaintances. Meeting for a coffee is an excellent way to break the ice and is often a subject that most Italians will have something in common. Because of this coffee has become a massive contribution to Italian culture.

Types of coffee

Although coffee didn’t originate from Italy, the Italians have certainly made it their own. In particular they are famous for their Espressos and Cappuccinos. Espresso, also called Caffé, a small shot of compressed ground coffee with a small amount of pressurised water. The espresso is the drink of choice for most Italians and is usually consumed quickly at any time of the day.

Another popular drink is the Cappuccino, a variation on the espresso combined with steamed milk and a hint of froth on top. The cappuccino is usually only consumed in the mornings with breakfast only. This trend is particularly unique to Italian coffee culture, and is often seen as a massive faux pas if ordered after noon. One coffee drink that is particularly different in Italy is the Caffé Latte more commonly called a Latte in the UK. Rather than one third espresso and two-thirds heated milk topped with 1cm of foam, you may be surprised to learn that if you order a latte in Italy you will be served a glass of cold milk!

If you are interested in Italian coffee culture and want to try excellent Italian coffee ranges then explore the rest of the Buongusto website.