Coffee did not originate in Italy, nor did espresso which is simply coffee beans roasted for longer periods of time. Espresso is a very very dark roast. It is not known when coffee beans were officially discovered, however it was Ethiopia which started the actual practice of cultivation.
Italian Espresso
Coffee beans did not even reach Italy until the 17th century when the coffee craze hit Europe. Along the way different variations to how coffee was made and served came into existence. Now there are more terms for coffee drinks than one can imagine.
When you go into a coffee shop do you stare blankly at the menu then decide to just order what you always do in the attempt to look like you are a seasoned confident coffee drinker? Or on the other hand do you pick something different each time in order to expand your repertoire of coffee knowledge?
For myself I’m the former – staring blankly deciding to just order what I know I already like – a tall latte plain.
So to help those who do not hold a degree in coffee definitions, here is a quick list.
Caffe Latte: 1 to 3 ratio of espresso to milk topped with a little foam.
Cappuccino: 1 to 1 ratio of espresso, milk and froth. Example: 2 oz espresso, 2 oz milk, 2 oz froth.
Espresso: 1 shot espresso. No milk. No froth. If you add a little froth, it becomes a Cafe Macciato. In Italy they use stove top espresso makers to make their own espresso right at home. In my time visiting there,it was customary that nearly every home we went into, espresso was offered. I remember we were in such a hurry one time, but the host insisted we have a shot. Naturally we did. I couldn’t understand what they were saying, but I can tell you that it was obviously an insult if we didn’t have some!
Caffe Mocha: The same as a latte, but with a shot of chocolate syrup mixed in.
I don’t know for sure which of these drinks originated in Italy, but it is believed the first coffee house was opened in Venice. Today, it is hard to find an Italian in Italy that drinks coffee the way we do here in America – brewed with water. No, no, no – that would be enough to be… well… looked down upon for sure. Italians like their espresso, not coffee!
Liz
Italian Stovetop Espresso Makers
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Did you happen to see the Food Tech “Italian” show, where we went to Costa Rica and then Alabama to see how espresso is grown and roasted for the American market?
Of course! What I thought was interesting is that most espresso beans are actual blends of various beans. Not a single bean variety. We used to get our beans from a roaster 20 minutes down the road. It was the best fresh espresso ever. We’ve moved and can’t do it anymore which is a shame.
We have a question though about that show. In the part that talked about pine nuts used for Italian pesto. We were amazed to see that the nuts are shelled by hand. At first we thought it had to be a joke, but apparently it wasn’t. Is this how all pine nuts have to be shelled or was it this particular company?
Liz
I have tried Caffe Latte, Cappuccino, Espresso and Caffe Mocha. My personal favorite is still the Caffe Latte, especially if it’s in a nice big mug.
James
I have to agree James, Caffe Lattes hit the spot every time!
My favorite, with my cappuccino machine, is a latte – espresso, then some Kahlua, followed by steamed, frothy milk. I make it perfect every time! Just like James, it’s in a nice, big mug!
My father was visiting his brother in FL during February and when he came back he had bought the Mukka Express Cappuccino maker. It’s supposed to do the milk, espresso and froth all at once. It was a riot trying to see my folks figure out how it works. Not simple enough for me though. My Uncle apparently has it down pat, but I couldn’t even get it to work right the first time and when that is the case I give up and stick to what I know.
I still stand by my favorite regular stovetop espresso maker. Frank (my husband) and I use an espresso machine he bought from Starbucks over 10 years ago – a Profi Estro. Unfortunately they don’t sell them anymore. But when we travel we always use the stove top ones. They are so convenient.
I couldn’t live without my 6-7 espressos each morning. Using top notch beans keeps me from getting wired, and I never like my it diluted with anything. Give me the good old strong stuff!
I buy my Italian grown beans from a little Irish man who spends all his time hidden away in a room behind a warehouse with nothing but a big roaster and a chair. Sometimes I feel like I have to tap a “code” on the door to be let in.
That’s great! I love the aroma of fresh roasted beans – it just can’t be beat!