hOW TO DRINK ESPRESSO LIKE AN ITALIAN: THE BEST WAY

Have you ever wondered if there is a right way to drink espresso? Come on, admit it. You have.

Photo: Jovana Durovic

Every coffee lover (who wasn’t born in Italy) probably has! If you have ever had the experience of sitting in a café in Rome, Venice, or Florence, it can feel like the Italian coffee culture has a secret. How to properly drink espresso like an Italian is part of la dolce vita – the sweet life.

First, learn to pronounce espresso properly. Before we get into the specifics of how to drink this beautiful beverage, it’s important to know how to pronounce espresso.

It might seem like a silly thing, but if you are going to the effort of learning how to drink espresso properly, pronouncing it correctly is a good start. Phonetically, you say it “Eh-spress-o”. Not “EX-press-o”.

Got it? Great! Now, here’s everything you need to know to enjoy espresso the Italian way.

1. First – Warm Your Espresso Cup

You likely know to do this, because it’s a good tip whether you’re drinking black coffee or any kind of hot coffee. So this is just a reminder to pre-heat your mug with near-boiling water. It makes for a better shot. 

Don’t forget to use the right cup. For the most part, in cafes around the world, espresso is served in an espresso cup that is ceramic and white. If you are in a sufficiently fancy coffee shop, it will be called a demitasse (pronounced ‘dem-E-tas’), which is French for “half cup.”

In Italy, the Istituto Nazionale Espresso Italiano, or INEI (National Italian Espresso Institute, in English) includes a specification for the type of cup in which a Certified Italian Espresso is to be served (1):

It is a white china cup, free of any inside decoration, elliptical in shape, with a capacity of 50-100 milliliters.

Now you know what to look for the next time you’re upgrading your china collection!

2. Next – Sip Your Sparkling Water

While this step is optional, it’s highly recommended if you want to fully appreciate the hidden flavors of the bean. If you watch some of the best baristas in Italy and other places around the world, they provide a glass of sparkling water with an espresso. You’ve probably wondered what it’s for.

This is to cleanse your palate so you can fully taste the rich, dark liquid gold of your shot. So sip that sparkling acqua minerale and stimulate your taste buds!

3. Now Order Your Espresso

If you’re making your own shot, now is the time to use your home espresso machine. If you’re in a cafe, it’s time to order an espresso. Tell the waiter or barista that you want one espresso pronto, specifying either a double shot or a single shot. 

Double shots are common in North America, but a single shot of espresso remains the norm in Italy.

4. Skim The Crema And Stir

The next part will sound counter-intuitive. Stir your crema.

We spend so much time trying to perfect crema and discussing it to death with other members of the coffee tribe, and it looks beautiful in the cup when done right. But it really contributes more texture than flavor. 

It’s the result of CO2 emitted from the roast beans during the high–pressure espresso brewing process. So get a spoon and stir it in.

Stirring espresso blends the thicker parts of the shot, which sink to the bottom of the cup, with the lighter notes sitting on top.

5. Finally – Sip and Enjoy

Drink your espresso. Take a moment to experience and appreciate the taste of the espresso. Let this beautiful, rich, dark liquid roll over your tongue. Savor the flavors of the coffee bean and the texture of the drink. Absorb the aroma of this little cup of magic, and let the aftertaste linger.

Certain characteristics of the bean will be magnified, giving you a real sense of its flavor. A high-quality espresso is bitter, but not too bitter. It is rich, but not overpoweringly so. Espresso contains a depth of flavor that is complicated by sweetness and brighter notes. And it will have a luscious mouthfeel.

If you want a visual guide, watch HomeBrewsCoffee editor Scott Fisher drink his espresso the Italian way:

Do You Just Drink Espresso Straight?

Italians generally drink straight espresso. You can add sugar to espresso if you enjoy your coffee sweet. Most coffee bars in Europe serve a sugar cube on the saucer with the demitasse containing your single or double espresso.

You can add milk to espresso, but it changes the name of the espresso drink. A small dash of steamed milk foam makes it a macchiato. Make it milkier, and it becomes a cappuccino. Even more steamed milk, and you have a latte.

Now you know how to Enjoy espresso Like a Pro! 

Do you feel like you have a handle on how to drink and enjoy a good espresso shot? 

When it comes to espresso, the Italian culture around the ritual can feel complicated and a bit intimidating. Hopefully, this tutorial helps you feel more confident in how to properly experience an espresso. One thing to remember is that it’s really not as overwhelming as it feels, and most espresso drinkers are happy to help guide you if you ask for advice. The coffee tribe is kind.

Let us know what you think in the comments. If you’d like to start making your own espresso at home, check out our guide on how to use an espresso machine, or read our guide on how to do it without a machine.