corner view / Italy

corner view
6: coffee

Ti offro un cafe?
Can I offer you a coffee?

Mr. Duncan often tells the story that the guy who conceived the idea Starbucks did so as a result of a trip to Italy. If we can trust this source, it concurs, sort of. The coffee culture in Italy, however, is a bit different from that in the States. First of all, Italians just won't pay the outrageous prices found in coffee bars in the States. No way. Secondly, coffee is consumed in the bar, often while standing, and to-go cups are absolutely unheard of. Finally, an espresso is acceptable at all times of the day; however, cappuccinos (or any other milk-based products) are generally reserved for the morning.

I could write volumes about coffee here in Italy; my blog is not about volumes of text, so if you are interested, you should go here for a good start, and then continue here.

Now . . . I'm no Italian, only an American living in Italy for some years now, but we are serious coffee consumers in our house.


This is a traditional stove top coffee maker, or espresso maker, that can probably be found in every home in Italy. I originally learned to call it a macchinetta when living in the South, but I've since heard it called a moka. We use it on the weekends; and while we once very snobbishly insisted on Illy coffee, we've since lightened up and enjoy Kimbo or even Lavazza.



This device is used to froth the hot milk which is poured over the piping hot espresso. It's good. .. . .very good.



However, all this Italian coffee making takes time & patience. Because of this, each weekday morning as we are rushing around, we enjoy a cup or two of traditional American brewed coffee. I take mine with a dash of sugar & evaporated milk.



We do, however, import a favorite directly from Louisiana: Community Coffee. I think I have it running through my veins as I have been drinking it, in some variation, since I was just a tike. You see, South Louisiana has quite a coffee culture as well, that goes well beyond Cafe Du Monde and started long, long before Starbucks.

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