My First Experience Drinking Coffee in Italy

The Very First Italian Coffee

"There is a first time for everything"  --true statement.  There is nothing like your very first cup of Italian goodness brewed from a little coffee bar in Italian...this was the first time I ever had REAL Italian Coffee!

First Time in an Italian Coffee Bar.

Drinking Coffee in Italy

Passing outside tables and chairs, I crossed the threshold of the door to the coffee bar, "caffe".  I was blown away just by the overall set up of how this little (maybe) 500 sq room packed a crazy amount of Italian refreshments.  The setup went like this:  bar with a giant espresso machine behind it, lining the the walls behind the bar where little espresso cups and plates, finally packed into the corner where alcohol bottles.  All of this with only space for 6-7 people to stand and turn around.


Upon walking into the shop, a deep thick smell of coffee hits you--like going to Starbucks, but only 2X.  I immediately fell in love with this place.  You see, I love coffee and had been drinking coffee since I was about 8 years old (I know, that's young for some and old for others).  I grew up on the Folder's/ Maxwell House junk and didn't really know the difference because that's the coffee everybody in my family drank.  It is very easy to see that because of the nice weather, you were either supposed to drink at the bar OR go outside to finish your coffee.


The lady who actually helped me was a very nice women who didn't speak any English.  This is very typical outside the major cities.  She immediately knew I was an American tourist.  Like every single coffee bar I have been, ever person who works there is nice--and not because of straight business...they seem to genuinely care about meaning a new person.  Our conversation began.

First Time Ordering Coffee in Italy.

 Here's how it went:  I walked up to the bar and said, "coffee please", she she replied, "ahh...caffe o caffe americano"?  Like I said, she knew immediately I was an American and knew that I didn't say it correctly--she knew I really didn't know what I was asking for:  an Italian coffee (cappuccino) or a 10oz mug of coffee (American style)

I stood there with a confused looked while she turned around and grabbed 2 cups.  She spun around and held up the traditional Italian coffee cup, "caffe" she said.  Then held up the much large cup which to me look like a tea cup and said, "caffe ameicano".  OK...I got it!   (Sorry, I'm a little slow)  I actually ordered the "americano" coffee as my first every Italian coffee.  The coffee lady smiled, spun around and started to work on my black goodness.

2-3 Minutes later...I had 2 cups in front of me. 

Drinking Coffee Italian Style...well, sort of.

Italian Goodness

Two cups?  1 espresso cup with "caffe"and 1 cup of hot water.  The lady behind the bar showed me to mix both the coffee and the hot water into the one larger cup to form the "caffe americano".  I mixed both together and drank it.  It was the best coffee I had ever tasted.  So rich, so intense, almost thick--but so good.  I drank it black and was hooked from then on---Italian coffee is like a drug!  The Americano is nothing but a watered-down version of the traditional Italian Espresso.  It just that Americans like more volume, yet the the caffeine level is still the same amount.

Later, I order the real "caffe" having the Italian coffee--the way Italy meant for it to be enjoyed!  It was great and the greatest experience of my coffee drinking life.  The greatest revelation was:  I could enjoy Italian style coffee in the States. 

Down to the Last Drop.

It's crazy to think that coffee can leave such an impression on you--but we aren't talking about just any coffee--we are talking about drinking coffee in Italy!  Something that bothers me is that even though I can buy Italian coffee and make it for myself--it's just never the same.  Part of why this whole experience happened was the location.  Italy itself.

But, when I want to try and get back to that place in Italy in my mind, I use the same coffee most of the Coffee Bars use:  Lavazza Coffe from Amazon.

Drinking Coffee in Italy

How to Make that Italian Coffee Experience. 

I personally found that a stove top espresso maker actually works the very best when brewing my coffee.  An espresso maker just seems to be the jack of all trades because it works perfectly on:  gas, electric or ceramic heaters....you can even use it over a campfire!  

This is the Bialetti Moka Espresso version--one I have, and it's the best seller from Amazon:

Drinking the Very Best Coffee

   


Thanks for joining me on this blog post about Drinking Coffee in Italy...let me know where in Italy you had your first coffee experience!  Ciao!