Day 19. Only in Italy

As a couple we share many similar tastes, forged through three decades of marriage. One unusual one is that we generally drink tea and we don’t normally bother with coffee. We are not opposed to coffee…we just prefer tea. However, as a result of this visit to Italy we are reconsidering our relationship with coffee.

After doing some research, we are attempting to comply with some of the important rules of Italian coffee etiquette. We order our cappuccino in the morning, well before the clock strikes midday (to drink a coffee with milk after midday is considered inappropriate by Italians). We follow the local custom of having our coffee standing up at the bar, where it is much cheaper than if we sat down. We remember to pay only after we have finished our coffee. There are no paper cups with plastic lids, and certainly no calling out of your name. The barista simply serves the coffee, in a small china cup placed on a saucer. We do not specify a size, as there is only one size available. The cups are much smaller than at home – with only one shot of coffee and much less milk. The whole exercise is over in minutes, as the coffee temperature is warm so that you can drink it quickly, and be on your way. When you add in a cornetto, a small crescent shaped non-crumbly pastry filled with dark chocolate, morning tea (or should we say morning coffee) is an absolute delight.

The total cost of duo cappuccino and uno cornetto is less than 3 euro, which is about the same as one coffee and no pastry in Australia. So in Italy we do as the Italians do.

Next time someone at home questions our tea preference with the incredulous, ‘You don’t drink coffee?’, we will now reply, ‘We do drink coffee…but only in Italy’.