Italian coffee

Italian Coffee Culture

The aroma of a hot cup of coffee or caffè can wake you up from the morning blues. Coffee, especially espresso, has been a staple in the Italian culture. Being a traditional and authentic Italian market, Sansone sells a diverse selection of ground coffee and espresso beans for customers to choose from. As the world continues to experiment with new coffee flavors and drinks, many Italians have stayed true to tradition when it comes to their coffee culture.

Caffè Americano

In America, coffee is primarily used to boost energy, especially in the morning.  Americans consume a significant quantity of coffee throughout their long work days.  The coffee tends to be mixed with flavors, creamers and sugar. Some of these caffeinated drinks are very sweet.  They become more of a sweet indulgence vs. an energy boost. Traditional Italians enjoy coffee with only steamed milk so they can really taste and savor the flavor of the bean. Unlike what many American coffee shops might lead you to believe, Italian coffee is actually quite simple. Orders are usually limited to two words so you won’t require a dictionary to figure out your drink of choice.

The caffè americano (American coffee) is Italy’s take on American drip coffee. Drip coffee is the coffee preparation many Americans are accustomed to. Boiling water drips through ground coffee into a pot that makes about eight cups at a time. The Italian interpretation of this is espresso diluted with loads of hot water. Sansone Market offers full espresso or ground espresso beans so you can make your own Italian style coffee at home. But, if you rather stick to what you know, Sansone Market also offers a variety of ground coffee you’ll love.

Caffè Normale

Believe it or not, there’s a science to how the Italians enjoy their caffeine. During the morning hours, Italian coffee shop baristas would expect to hear orders for the same three drinks repeatedly – cappuccino, caffè latte and latte macchiato. Every drink, no matter the name, has a base of espresso. The only difference in these three drinks is the amount of milk added. However, after 11 am, don’t be surprised if you get a weird look for ordering a cappuccino. Italians change up their coffee orders in the afternoon because they believe drinking milk-filled coffee in the afternoon is bad for digestion.

However, one exception to this  social rule is caffe normale. Caffè normale (normal coffee) can be enjoyed at all times of the day. Caffè normale, or just caffè, is simply a shot of espresso. Another order acceptable throughout the day is caffè lungo.  Caffe Lungo is a shot of espresso with a little water to make it “longer”. Although this might sound like a caffè americano, don’t be fooled, it’s much stronger! Since ordering large coffees and to-go cups are nonexistent in Italy, you can expect to find people running into coffee shops multiple times a day to get their quick shot of energy.

Caffè Culture

Italians see coffee as something that should be enjoyed socially which is very different from the American on-the-go culture.  Italian coffee shops are set up more like bars. Customers order their coffee and stand along a bar with friends while they drink it.  And then they pay when they are done. The bar setup also avoids long coffee lines. This benefits people when they need to run in for that extra, quick espresso shot throughout the day. Also a cup of caffè in Italy is a lot cheaper than a cup of coffee in America costing anywhere between $1 and $1.30.

We all know someone who can’t function without their morning cup of caffè. Although different, both Americans and Italians enjoy some good bean brew. Italy is the world’s very own coffee time capsule. Italians have not been influenced by the new trends of coffee consumption. Whether you’re looking to get a taste of Italy in your mug or just a regular cuppa joe, Sansone Market offers the selection you need to become your own barista at home.