Espresso please...

From the first cup in the morning with milk, to the short black and bold one in the afternoon, none of these blogs would be written without it.

If I had my druthers, I’d be standing elbow to elbow at a lively Bar in a village savoring the slightly bitter, slightly sweet, delectable frothiness of a morning cappuccino. Alas, Covid-19 has other ideas. But one can dream. And one can shop online.

The Bialetti moka pot was invented by Alfonso Bialetti in 1933, allowing people to enjoy an espresso, on their own home stovetop, that was of comparable quality to what they could drink at the local Bar.

Currently, with the advent of the K-cup coffee makers, the Bialetti company is at risk of bankruptcy. Are we promoting Bialetti moka pots? Yes we are. But of course, one must make their own choice.

“In 2014, enough K-cups were sold, that if placed end to end, would circle the earth 10.5 times.”

— James Hamblin, The Atlantic, March 2, 2015 

Option One

Take a pod out of the drawer, plunk it in a machine, pull a lever, push a button, listen to a noise similar to the taking off of a rocket, pull out your cup and throw the pod in the trash. It takes about 2 minutes.

There, in the trash it will join the other tens of billions of K-cups filling the landfills each year. It’s 2020 and the K-cup industry has only continued to grow.

Option Two

Fill the bottom of your Moka pot with water. Open your can of finely ground espresso coffee, breathe in the rich heady aroma, spoon in the grounds, tap them down, screw on the top and set it on the burner. Stand at the stove and day dream, stretch, chat, or do nothing at all. Listen for the first little bubbling, signaling the beginning, then listen for the gurgling air of its finale. It is done. About 5 minutes have gone by. Pour it into your very favorite little cup knowing that at least for now, you’re a little closer to Italy and a little kinder to the planet.

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If you choose option 2, you can find a Bialetti moka pot and coffee here:

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The Italians love their cafe and are very particular how they take it. Here are the most common for you to try at home:

Un espresso ~ a very small cup with one shot of pure espresso. 

Un macchiato ~ a dab of steamed milk on top of an espresso.

Un cappuccino ~ an espresso in a bigger cup with milk steamed to a nice foamy cream and added to the top. 

Un caffè latte ~ a large mug or glass with steamed milk and an espresso poured into the middle of the milk so that it falls to the bottom. 

Un caffè corretto (correct) ~ an espresso with a shot of liquor, usually Sambuca. 

Whether your preference is a big cup of American Joe, or a rich and dense shot of Italian espresso, we hope you enjoy it, and we look forward to lingering over a cup with you, in Italy in 2021.

What is your favorite caffè ritual? Let us know in the comments below!