What Is Real Italian Coffee? (Solved & Explained!)

Espresso is considered to be authentic Italian coffee, varying from place to place throughout the world. The variations of espresso come in the taste, aroma, and quantity of the coffee.

The main difference in espresso variations is the consumption patterns and taste in certain cities of the country, especially between North and South Italy. North and South Italy have a close link of the traditions, habits, and culture of coffee consumers. 

There are numerous espresso styles, but this does not mean that authentic Italian Espresso is any less important. Instead, varieties of espresso in Italy show it’s a multi-faceted culture in small cups, which enriches and strengthens the Italian Espresso’s existence.

This article will look at the history of Italian coffee, what makes coffee different, and how to make authentic Italian coffee.

What Makes Italian Coffee Different?

The two main and most popular versions of espresso, espresso, and Moka coffee, are what make Italian coffee different. Medium roast is used for both versions, however, the roast for Moka is slightly coarser, and the resulting coffee is intense and dark. 

The roasts are fine if an espresso machine is used, which results in a coffee with deep brown cream on the surface. The serving size for the two versions fills half a demitasse cup and is measured between one to one and a half ounces.

In the morning, most Italian love drinking their cappuccino, which is a variation of the espresso, while another, more traditional espresso is preferred after lunch and dinner.

What Is The History Of Coffee In Italy?

In the 16th Century, coffee was imported for the first time at the Port of Venice. This was the time when Paduan Prospero Alpino came from the East with the coffee. 

These coffee bags were sold to various pharmaceutical companies. Later, due to attraction towards high prices of coffee drinks, wealthier classes started taking interest in the drinks. 

The popularity of this drink increased to a level that. By the year 1763, there were nearly 218 coffee shops in Venice alone. 

What Is The Most Famous Brand Of Coffee In Italy? 

Lavazza is the most famous coffee brand in Italy. In 1885, Luigi Lavazza founded a famous coffee brand known as ‘Lavazza’, which is the Italian market leader of coffee products to this day.

What Is The Culture Of Coffee In Italy?

The tradition of coffee around Italy is uniquely unchanged despite the integration of outside coffee culture influences on Italian coffee. 

Americanos and Cappuccinos, the Italian-inspired coffee recipes, have always been at the heart of Italian coffee culture, and have never been affected by outside coffee culture. 

It is a typical sight in Italy to find people sitting for long periods of time in the afternoon, talking with friends over a cup of coffee after lunch. This makes the opening hours of coffee shops later in the day.

What Kind Of Coffee Is In Italy?

Here is the list of Italy’s most popular types of coffee:

1. Caffe (Espresso, Caffe Normale).

2. Caffe Ristretto.

3. Caffe Lungo.

4. Caffe Shakerato.

5. Crema Di Caffe.

6. Cappuccino.

7. Macchiato.

8. Caffe Marocchino.

9. Caffe Ginseng.

10. Orzo.

How Do You Make Real Italian Coffee?

You can make real Italian coffee by using a Moka pot such as a macchinetta or caffettiera, which is a three-chambered aluminum pot, and following the simple steps given below: 

1. Separate three parts of the Moka pot. Add cold water to the bottom part. Water should fill up to the rim.

2. Take the filter and fill it with your preferred coffee grinds. The coffee grinds should fill up to the top of the rim.

3. Now, put the filter containing grinds over the bottom part which contains cold water.

4. Fix the top part securely to ensure a clean seal.

5. Put the Moka pot on the stove with a medium-low flame. 

6. Take a coffee cup and add three to four teaspoons of sugar. When coffee is in the Moka pot and starts percolating, take out two to three teaspoons of this coffee. Add it into the coffee cup containing sugar.

7. Stir this vigorously with a spoon. This sugar serves for about three cups of espresso. Continue stirring until it gets a light caramel color. The resultant mixture is known as sugar cream. You can take one teaspoon out for use in a separate cup of Espresso coffee.

8. When the coffee starts bubbling, turn off the flame. 

9. Remove the Moka pot from the stove and add espresso from the Moka pot into this cup and stir. The coffee is ready to drink.

What Are Some Italian Coffee Recipes?

The most popular types of Italian coffee recipes are Ristretto and Lungo.

How to Make Ristretto Coffee?

To make Ristretto coffee, you need the following equipment: 

• Espresso machine – To get a Ristretto shot, you need an Espresso machine.

• Coffee grinder – Ristretto shot consists of only coffee and water, so to achieve the full flavor you need to grind your coffee fresh.

• Coffee beans – Freshly ground coffee beans should be used.

• Filtered water – It gives a better taste to coffee.

Here is the recipe for Ristretto coffee:

1. Fill the filter with finely ground coffee.

2. Using an espresso machine, pull one or two shots of ristretto coffee.

3. To avoid pulling a normal espresso shot, you can use a scale to measure the amount of coffee. 

4. If you don’t have a scale, you can simply lower the extraction time. 

How to Make Lungo Coffee?

Lungo and espresso share the same method of preparation with only one difference that lies in their extraction time. The extraction time of Lungo is longer as compared to Espresso. Here is how to make Lungo coffee below:

1. Using an Espresso machine, preheat your coffee cup. You can also use hot water for this purpose.

2. Take 7 to 10 grams of espresso beans. Grind it directly into the portafilter. 

3. Fix the portafilter in its place and start brewing.

4. Stop brewing after about 50 seconds. By this time, about 60 milliliters (one cup) of lungo coffee will be brewed. 

5. Stir it well and enjoy.