Italian Coffee

Italian Coffee

Fresh roasted Italian coffee is the key for making great espresso and cappuccino but you need to know how  to choose the right blend.

Why Italian Coffee ?

The answer to this question is quite simple. Italy is the Homeland of Espresso Coffee and more than half of all the espresso machines sold worldwide carry an italian brand name.

A great espresso requires a blend of coffee beans harvested from different regions of the world A traditional Italian espresso blend has 10 to 40 % robusta beans in it because robusta contributes to heavy crema in the cup, allowing a wider variance on the coffee freshness factor.

Italian coffee roasters actively hunt for finer robusta bean sources to blend into espresso.

How To Order Italian Coffee

What kind of coffee should you order ? The possibilities can be confusing to everone but an Italian. This is a list of the most popular coffee drinks.

caffe - A small cup of very strong coffee, i.e., espresso

caffe Americano - American-style coffee, but stronger

caffe corretto - Coffee "corrected" with a shot of grappa, cognac, or other spirit

caffe freddo - Iced coffee

caffe Hag - Decaffeinated coffee

caffe latte - Hot milk mixed with coffee and served in a glass for breakfast

caffe macchiato - Espresso "stained" with a drop of steamed milk. A small version of a cappuccino

cappuccino - Espresso infused with steamed milk and drunk in the morning, but never, never after lunch or dinner

granita di caffe con panna - Iced coffee with whipped cream

Like the French, Italians never drink coffee or tea with any meal except breakfast. Coffee (caffe) is often ordered after a meal. Tea is only considered a morning or between-meal beverage or one to be used for medicinal purposes. It is the unknowing tourist who orders a cappuccino in a restaurant after lunch or dinner. When ordering your after-dinner coffee, do not ask for an espresso, ask for a caffe, per favore.

If you want information about italian coffee, you cannot go wrong by visiting a couple of the manufacturers sites.