Italy is widely recognized as the greatest coffee roasting, blending, and coffee centric country in the world.  More remarkable is that Italy is not a coffee growing country, they source their beans mostly from Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa. How is coffee such a captivating and large part of Italian culture?

“Italians are masters of the craft of mixing various types of arabica and robusta beans.  In addition to bean types, they also consider the bean’s characteristics and quality, as each place they are sourced from is unique.  Finally, like a true Michelangelo-inspired artist, Italians roast them to perfection to obtain a magnificent taste, quality, and standard of excellence,” says Francis Cinoa, founder and owner of New Jersey based Saravella coffee.

Key to this cultural story is Italian inventor Angelo Moriondo, who in 1884 patented the first espresso machine, and his compatriots Luigi Bezzera and Desiderio Pavoni for their subsequent improvements. 

Coffee culture in Italy differs from the United States.  In Italia, coffee habits and culture are more intertwined in people’s everyday lives.  Drinking coffee creates a simple inexpensive habitual moment of enjoyment and relaxation, often done multiple times a day. 

Coffee in Italy is normally enjoyed at a coffee bar, or al banco, with friends, relatives, and co-workers. 

“As their busy lives attest,“ adds Francis, “many Italians often drink their coffee expeditiously, preferring a quickie in a coffee bar for a morning or afternoon pick me up.  Head inside, stand at the bar where it’s cheaper versus sitting down due to a minor city tax, ask for un caffè (an espresso), drink up, lay down a Euro, and it’s arrivederci.“

Regarding flavor, ask any Italian barista and they’ll note that Southern and Sicilian Italians prefer a stronger and darker roasted blend of arabica and robusta beans, whereas northern Italians prefer a full-arabica flavor. 

Each of Italy’s 20 regions has its own unique coffee culture with many variations.  Let’s explore some regional differences in an upcoming article. 

About Saravella™

Deliciously Italian. Founded in New Jersey in 2022, Saravella is a small batch premium artisan coffee roasted in Italy.  Visit: www.Saravella.com.  Facebook: SaravellaCoffee, Twitter: @SaravellaCoffee,  Instagram: @SaravellaCoffee