Aromatic Arabica Beans – Italian Caffe

It would be hard to think of Italy without coffee. After all it is the national breakfast and the home to coffee drinks that have taken the rest of the world by storm. Without coffee, Italy would grind to a halt. Coffee was not invented in Italy but coffee culture as we know did originate here. Today Italy is a country of coffee aficionados who will not tolerate an establishment that has bad coffee. Italians will even skip coffee in a restaurant to have one at a favorite bar, it is just that important.
The 17th century saw the opening of the first European coffeehouse in Venice, which later spawned over two hundred others along its canals. Coffee spread quickly at this point and other coffeehouses were founded in the major cities of Italy. Some of these dignified and elegant establishments are still in existence in Venice, Turin and Rome- they are virtual palaces to the national stimulant, coffee. But in the end it all depends upon the coffee itself and not where you drink it.
Good beans make good coffee, it is that simple. But to make great coffee it takes a master to blend and roast the beans properly. Italian coffees use mainly the Arabica variety of coffee bean, known for its full flavor and low caffeine content. However depending upon the region and particular tastes, the stronger and caffeine rich Robusta beans are blended with Arabica. The blends of the south tend to have more Robusta content in their blends which makes for a stronger espresso. Unlike French roast coffees, which are dark and very oily, Italian roast coffee is a rich brown color and should have very little or no oil on the beans. Roasting time depends upon the blend as Robusta beans need to be roasted longer than Arabica blends.
When ordering a coffee in bar in Italy, one must keep in mind the differences in price. In many of the nicest piazza in Italy a cappuccino can cost four times as much if you sit at a table than drinking it at the bar. Most Italians drink their coffee quickly at the bar before heading off to work, leaving the tables for the tourists. If you try to order a coffee by asking the bartender, be prepared to give him your receipt. In most places you have to pay for your drink first and then show proof of purchase by giving the bartender the receipt.
For ordering an espresso in Italy, you can simply ask for a “caffe” and remember to drink in quickly. Espresso is not made to sip casually, it is made to be drunk in two or three sips at most. Coffee is not served by itself and is served after a meal, with the exception of breakfast. Any coffee after breakfast should not have milk in it and cappuccino orders after 11 am are often laughed at. However there are numerous varieties of coffee drinks that you can order and all are delicious.
You can sample various types of coffee at the coffee bars in Italy. You can explore around and you might love to carry some exotic coffee beans home for yourself or to give to your friends as souvenirs. Hiring a car to move around would be a good idea as you can take short coffee breaks while you check out the places of tourist attraction in Italy. Car Rental Italy offers cars to rent from a wide fleet of cars with Hertz. They also have economical touring packages for tourists, who never cease from visiting the picturesque place all year long.

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