Understanding Italian Coffee - The Art of Espresso

If you are a coffee and espresso lover, then you mustgrounds into the top chamber to create the final brew.
know that Italy is where it all began! That is preciselyThese are often called a moka pot, and they are
why it pays to be a student of the Italian coffeeconvenient and easy to use to make a deep espresso
culture, and find out all that there is to know about thebrew at a fraction of the cost of a larger home
birth of espresso in Italy. In Italy, espresso is an art formespresso machine.
that has many different traditions and customsTo complete your understanding of Italian espresso
surrounding it. To add even more variety to yourterminology, it is helpful to know how to order
coffee and espresso palette, you can find out aboutespresso in Italy. For a simple shot of espresso, you
the art of espresso drinking in Italy!can simply order a caffe. This will give you a very
One of the first things to keep in mind if you arestrong coffee, which is espresso itself. If you want a
ordering authentic Italian espresso is to pronounce itweaker version of that, which is American style
"espresso" and not "expresso". That is a verycoffee, then you can order a Caffe Americano. If you
common mistake, but it will give you a way in awould like a double shot of espresso, then you can
moment. When those terms are translated, "expresso"simply order a Caffe Doppio. For a delicious iced
means a fast train, so that is definitely not what youcoffee for a hot day, that is called a Caffe Freddo.
are looking for if you are trying to order a quality cupGot all that?
of Joe. When you go into an authentic Italian cafe, theLast but not least, here are a few other espresso
menu choices may be overwhelming to you.terms that you may already be familiar with. For a
Interestingly enough, Italians don't normally drink coffeetraditional latte, you will order a Caffe Latte. For
with any other meal except their breakfast, which isespresso that has a splash of steamed milk, you will
much different than the American coffee culture. If youorder a Caffe Macchiato. As a point of reference, this
go to Italy yourself, you will only find tourists in cafesis just a small version of a cappuccino. If you would like
ordering coffee in the hours after breakfast.a richer flavor to your brew, then you can order a
Another traditional Italian espresso custom is the useCaffe Marocchino, which is a shot of espresso with a
of a stovetop espresso maker. These items are alsosplash of steamed milk and cocoa powder. Take this
popular in the United States, and they work by sittingopportunity to sample all of the delicious flavors of the
atop the stove and heating water through a bottomItalian coffee culture!
chamber until it pushes up through the filter and coffee