It’s coffee time!

  

Hi everyone!

Days like these don’t affect us in a positive way. When the weather outside is gloomy and cloudy we start to be sluggish and the only thing that we really need to be happy is comfortable tracksuit, cosy blanket and soft pillow. However, if we want to avoid the autumn blues,  in my experience the best way which can help us to fell more ebullient is coffee. Sounds a bit corny but not for the Italians who made it one of their main export products. So what’s the secret? Which coffee should we choose in Italy? Does the time of drinking matter? If you want to know the answers to all these questions, I invite you to prepare your favourite coffee and stay with me J.

First of all, when we are in Italy we have to pay attention to the way of drinking coffee by the Mediterranean people. For this purpose, let’s go to the nearest cafe! We will see that the differences between Polish and Italian customs are visible to the naked eye. In Poland when we see somebody for a proverbial “cup of coffee” we usually think about longer meeting during which we can talk in private, laugh together and so on. In Italy, it doesn’t work that way. Coffee is often drunk in a hurry, on the way to work, with a jacket on and most importantly- standing up! Yes, no kidding ;). Italians drink coffee at the counter, looking in the newspaper or schmoozing with seller. The whole process lasts for a maximum of 5 minutes and is nothing like the ritual activity. Simply…if you have even 2 minutes to do something pleasant, come to bar and drink coffee! J

Of course when we know what means Italian coffee in real, we have to admit that it isn’t so difficult to drink it for 5 minutes. Why? It brings us to the main word on the traditional coffee menu in Italy –ESPRESSO. It’s very important question when we want to order a coffee in the bar because remember that for the Italians “coffee” means nothing more than “espresso”. So don’t be surprised, if you dont’t receive bigger cup of coffee. If you want to drink “Americano coffee”, you have to specify it. J

What about cappuccino in Italy? It’s also a great choice on condition that we order it till twelve. All because one the main rules says that we shouldn’t drink something with milk after the meal. Sure, in the end it’s up to you but if you don’t want to make a faux pas, drink it at breakfast ;).

Do you remember my first post in which I mentioned about the differences between the Italians from the North and from South? As far as the time of drinking cappuccino doesn’t change, the time of drinking espresso is a moot point. Southern Italians drink it excessively including the late evening hours in contrast to their neighbours from North who are more careful with the amount of caffeine before bed. 

The differences between Southern Italians and Northern Italians appear also in a moment of paying for coffee. In the South, you can calmly pay after you drink it – there’s no rush, we have to relax J. In the North it isn’t welcome so first we settle accounts and then we can enjoy coffee ;).  

If I had to recommend you which coffee drink in Italy, I would choose traditional cup of espresso, without milk and sugar J. Even if for one of you it seems too strong, I encourage you to try it. I’m sure that you won’t regret and you will discover the power which is hidden in this small cup of black liquid J.

 

See you next time!