The History and Development of Italian Coffee Culture: Why Ordering an Iced Americano in Italy Might Get You a Strange Look

Have you ever come across this question while surfing the internet: "Is it really illegal to order iced Americano in Italy?"

The answer is obviously no. The implication should be: why is it that in Italy, where coffee is everywhere, you can hardly find the ubiquitous iced Americano, and even iced coffee is rarely seen? Why is it that the same coffee, which is the most popular "lifesaver" in many countries, becomes the most despised drink in Italy?

Early Italian Coffee Culture

Italy has a long history of coffee consumption. Since 1580, coffee beans native to Africa and the Middle East entered Italy through the port of Venice. Initially, it was a drink enjoyed only by the upper class. Because it was a "Muslim drink" originating from the Middle East and Turkey, many Christian Italians referred to it as "the devil's beverage."

It wasn't until the early 17th century that Archbishop Clement VIII fell in love with this black drink and performed a baptism for coffee, officially designating it as a Christian beverage and bestowing upon it the name "God's drink." Subsequently, in 1645, Rome opened Europe's first coffeehouse, which was also Italy's earliest shop dedicated to selling coffee. From then on, coffee quickly spread throughout Italy.

Italian Contributions to Coffee: Beyond Flavor to Equipment Innovation

In the early days, people used old-fashioned Turkish pots to brew coffee and then filtered it. With the advent of the Industrial Revolution, it seemed everything was pursuing a fast pace, and Italians were no exception. In 1884, Angelo Moriondo successfully registered a patent in Turin, Italy, for a steam-powered machine for making coffee. However, because this device relied entirely on steam, the temperature was difficult to control, often making the coffee burnt and bitter. Consequently, it was subsequently modified multiple times by different people.

(Angelo Moriondo's Espresso Machine)

In the early 19th century, Milanese manufacturer Luigi Bezzera improved this patent and introduced the prototype of the world's first steam pressure coffee machine. It not only featured a detachable handle and separate assembly heads but could also extract a cup of coffee in a short time using high pressure.

With the advent and application of new machines, more and more Italians fell in love with the quickly extracted coffee from these machines. The term "espresso" was first included in the Italian dictionary around 1920 and was explained as: concentrated coffee made using pressure machines or filters.

For those who tasted this "fast coffee" for the first time, it didn't taste good. But upon learning that it was obtained quickly through steam pressure, Italians seemed energized, constantly thinking about how to upgrade and transform this steam-powered coffee machine to make better-tasting coffee.

For example, in 1938, Milanese engineer Achille Gaggia managed to add a lever to the coffee machine, which could forcefully increase the water pressure from 1.5 bar to 9 bar. This not only gave the coffee a layer of dark brown "crema" but also quantified the solution volume, making the coffee quality more consistent.

Thanks to the refinement and popularization of these machines, coffee-making methods underwent tremendous changes. Speed and convenience became new indicators of service in every coffeehouse, and that small cup of espresso began to evolve into the fundamental core of today's modern coffee system.

About Italians' Strong Taste Preferences

When espresso reached its final form, coffee culture had also kept pace. Compared to many other countries, Italian coffeehouses feature an atmosphere of high efficiency and fast pace, which perfectly matches the small-volume espresso, allowing people to come and go, enjoy it quickly, chat briefly with acquaintances, and then leave. Using brief leisure time to order a cup of espresso at a coffeehouse can be said to be one of Italians' most deeply rooted habits.

Walking into a coffeehouse, they directly tell the barista, "a single espresso," mostly dominated by the bitterness of dark roast, generally with Robusta added to make the crema richer. Some people add a bit of brown sugar to stir before tasting, drinking it all in one go, which is very satisfying. A cup of espresso in Italy typically costs only 1 euro, equivalent to about 7 RMB, making it a very popular beverage.

It should be noted that in the eyes of most Italians, only espresso is "real" coffee because, compared to lighter roasts and specialty coffees that emphasize single-origin, they are more accustomed to rich, full-bodied, heavy, and even bitter flavors. It is said that in Italians' belief, coffee is "digestive" and has nothing to do with refreshment. Therefore, after every meal, without a cup of espresso, they feel as if something is missing.

It's not hard to see that the reason Italians are so enthusiastic about espresso is their loyalty to their cultural roots. As FrontStreet Coffee mentioned above, Italy invented the espresso machine, which not only made coffee preparation faster but also permanently changed the global coffee industry. Therefore, for the Italian people, espresso is an important component of national identity, making Italy stand out in the world.

So, Will You Get Hit if You Order an Iced Americano in an Italian Coffeehouse?

Although most traditional Italians still adhere to their drinking habits, as the Italian coffee system has become popular worldwide, many countries and regions have developed their own coffee-drinking styles. Out of respect for others' dietary habits, when foreigners want an iced Americano, some local Italian baristas will try to meet the needs of foreign tourists.

Of course, it's not ruled out that there are many "stubborn traditionalists" who only serve espresso. When you ask them for an iced Americano, you'll likely get a "disapproving look" and then be served such a combination. (FrontStreet Coffee is joking; any similarity is purely coincidental.)

(espresso + ice cubes + water)

Finally, returning to our title, FrontStreet Coffee also recalled a prank video that circulated on the internet years ago: when Italians ordered espresso but secretly filled it with water, then served it to them and filmed their reactions:

"Here is your coffee."

"No~ Is this a pile of 💩?"

"Get lost! Beep~ ~"

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