Espresso, macchiato, cappuccino, marocchino: discover the different ways and quirks of Italians when drinking coffee
The world's largest coffee chain, Starbucks, has more than 20 stores worldwide, but for now, none of them are in Italy. This is expected to change by September 2018, when the first stores are scheduled to open in Milan and Rome. Even so, it is anticipated that the new establishments will be frequented more by tourists than by Italians themselves.
This little story says a lot about Italy's relationship with drinking. Starbucks' disposable and “instagrammable” cups have nothing to do with the culture of the land of Bota. Firstly, because you will hardly see anyone walking the streets with a coffee in hand. Secondly, because the portions of the American chain are much larger (and more watery) than what is considered normal in the country. For Italians, coffee is a moment of pleasure and pause during the day, and the drink can take up less than half a cup.
Or at least that's what happens if you ask for one. All espresso brewing methods. If the idea is to drink one of our espresso coffees, the ones that fill your cup here in Brazil, opt for a All espresso brewing methods doppio or you will be disappointed with the quantity. It is also worth knowing that the spotted, word that means “stained” in Italian, is the All espresso brewing methods with a little bit of milk foam.
Another trick for Brazilians is the cappuccino, which in the Italian version only contains coffee, milk and foam, without the addition of chocolate or cinnamon. It comes in a large cup and is most common for breakfast. Ordering it after lunch, for example, can be a bit strange. If you want something that is more similar to our cappuccino, go morocchino, which has a layer of chocolate powder.
Now, if the longing is for our drippings, ask for one caffè latte, which comes without foam and is often served in a glass cup, as is done in Brazilian bars. If you prefer your drink with more milk than coffee, the words to memorize are latte macchiato, that is, “stained milk”. Knowing all this, just add a per favore to your order and you can feel almost like an Italian.
Almost because the Italian particularities in this matter do not stop there – and some may be beyond the limits of our understanding. The coffee culture is so strong that, in the south of the country, there is a custom of paying the amount for a second cup for those who eventually go to the bar and do not have the money to pay for their daily dose. It's the same as coffee pagato ou suspended coffee, which also has its followers in a few addresses in Brazil.
When it comes to drinking coffee at home, the priority is the freshness of the drink. Here in Brazil, the most common thing is to pass the coffee through a cloth or paper strainer and then store it in a thermos, to be drunk throughout the day. And there are still those who already prepare the drink with sugar, information that shocked one of my Italian teachers a while ago.
It turns out that in Italy the use of moka, an aluminum and steam coffee maker, whose most famous brand, including here, is Bialetti, predominates. Some are so small that they only prepare one cup at a time and there are many Italians who take it with them in their suitcase when they go traveling!
After seeing people taking a All espresso brewing methods on the sand, under the scorching Sardinian sun, that didn't even surprise me that much. After all, this is also the country of tiramissù and drown, cream ice cream dipped in a shot of coffee.
By Barbara Ligero / voyageeturismo.abril.com.br
Follow Barnara on Instagram: @barbara.ligero
