Coffee in Italy

Lore & Background

The Italian word caffè likely originates from Kaffa, the region in Ethiopia where coffee originated. Muslims first used and distributed coffee worldwide from the port of Mocha in Yemen, after which Europeans named it mokka. In Italy, caffè typically denotes straight espresso, often enjoyed standing at the bar, served with a saucer, demitasse spoon, and sometimes a complimentary chocolate and small glass of water.

The home coffee maker, the caffettiera, is a small steam machine. The traditional Moka pot, invented by Italian engineer Luigi Di Ponti in 1933 and sold to Alfonso Bialetti, quickly became a staple of Italian culture. The Neapolitan caffettiera operates differently, requiring the device to be turned upside down when the drink is ready. Coffee houses, or caffetterie, became common in the 19th century, with establishments like Caffè Greco in Rome and Caffè Florian in Venice becoming famous meeting points for artists, intellectuals, and politicians.

Reader's Guide

Coffee in Italy holds significant cultural and historical importance. The main coffee port is Trieste, which also hosts a large coffee processing industry. Italian coffee consumption, often espresso, is highest in Naples, the city with the strongest coffee tradition. In 2021, both Naples and Trieste expressed intentions to apply for UNESCO heritage recognition for their coffee cultures. In Trieste, annual coffee consumption reaches 1,500 cups per person, about twice the Italian average.

The variety of Italian coffee types is enormous, with about 20 popular types nationwide and many regional varieties. These include espresso, ristretto, macchiato, cappuccino, caffelatte, affogato, shakerato, and others. The caffetterie culture was mainly enjoyed by men, while women organized tea meetings. Coffee houses historically provided environments for socializing, writing, and reading, a tradition that continues today with laptops and blogs replacing ink and paper.

Did You Know?

• The main coffee port in Italy is Trieste, which also has a large coffee processing industry.
• In Trieste, annual coffee consumption is 1,500 cups per person, about twice the Italian average.