The Italian espresso is not just a shot of caffeine: it is a social and cultural ritual that is considered on the peninsula to be a national treasure worthy of entry into the extraordinary heritage of UNESCO.
Italians from Venice to Sicily swallow about thirty million espressos a day in porcelain cups or small glasses with or without a drop of milk. For them it is not only a personal pleasure, but also a pleasant moment.
“Espresso is an excuse to tell a friend that you care about him,” explains AFP Massimiliano Rosatti, owner of the oldest and most prestigious Cambrinus Cafe in Naples. The extraordinary heritage of mankind by UNESCO. “We drink it every day, anytime. It’s a sharing moment, a magical moment,” he exclaims.
The glittering machine seated on the throne behind the marble counter trembles as the “barista” brews ground coffee into a small container.
25 milliliters
Established in 1998 by the Italian Espresso Institute, a formal espresso of about 25 milliliters and its “aroma should be rich in flowers, fruits, chocolate and delicious notes” add to the marble that governs its production.
“In the palate, the espresso should be full-bodied, velvety, and bitter”, without forgetting the surface “a creamy (…) reflection of brown towards black”.
The Ministry of Agriculture has sent a request to the UNESCO National Commission for Italy to register as a World Heritage Site, which must be submitted to the UN General Assembly in Paris by March 31. Must be submitted to the headquarters of the Agency.
Neapolitan pizza
Many Italian traditions are already recognized by UNESCO, ranging from the art of picking food and the art of Neapolitan pizza to the making of the violin in the Mediterranean seafood and Cremona.
Drinking espresso is “ritualistic and sacred in a way,” confirms Anna Maria Conte, a 70-year-old retired teacher at the famous San Carlo Opera House and a stone’s throw away from the sea.
Some amateurs like to go for coffee with mini pizzas or small balls of flour fried in sugar while chatting with their neighbors.
“When I go abroad, I see people standing in line to buy coffee, one behind the other, sometimes looking at a smartphone or sitting in a corner with a book. This does not happen here,” Massimiliano Rosatti insists. .
“There’s still a habit in some parts of Naples: when you see someone, you bring not a cake or flowers, but sugar and coffee,” he says.
Patented in 1884
Angelo Moriyondo, who has patented the espresso machine since 1884, was a Turinis, but it was a Milanese, Deciderio Pavoni, who was behind their mass production.
Espresso quickly gained popularity in the country from north to south, with little nuances depending on the region: more or less long, more or less full body, with a glass of shiny water.
“Moreto” enjoys espresso with milk foam and cocoa powder, 28-year-old British tourist Yale Lesin-Davis at the San Eustachio Cafe, a Romanian company not far from the Pantheon: “J I have a lot of childhood memories associated with this place where I came to drink coffee,” That’s good! “
To Raimonto Richie, the owner of this restaurant, a small espresso has the power to prevent loneliness even when drunk alone: ”Sometimes at home, we make a coffee, and this coffee maker fills a room and contacts us. Home”, with aromas reminiscent of many “good memories”.
This article was automatically published. Sources: ats / afp