Florence, Italy: COFFEE- Where to Go & What to Order!

I literally cringe every single time I hear a tourist ask for this in a coffee bar. With all the incredibly delicious coffees available here in Italy, why would anyone insist on getting something that is not a local specialty? Just to let you know- since Italians do not use the slow-drip coffee pots that are so popular in North America, many coffee bars just dump a shot of espresso into a cup of boiling water to make the "Caffe Americano." The goal of this article is to educate you on European (Italian) coffee in the hope that you will give it a try when you are here. I want to see more foreign visitors marching right up to the coffee bar and confidently order something that the other locals are enjoying!

Coffee is one of the world's top export products and most of it is grown in South America, Africa and Asia. The coffee beans are then roasted in various ways, which changes the taste of the beverage itself. Darker roasts tend to be bolder while lighter roasts are more complex- again, this is a matter of personal taste. Here in Italy, only the finest coffee beans are used in making coffee. The reason? Italians (and Europeans in general) do not drink coffees with artificially flavored creamers or added things such as caramel syrup, spices and whipped cream. The coffee here is very simple and straightforward, so it MUST be of high quality to taste good and satisfy customers.

Believe it or not, there is less caffeine in a shot of Italian espresso than in a cup of American coffee. Espresso is all about flavor, so an abundant amount of coffee is used for each cup. The scalding water passes through the coffee grounds quickly, resulting in robust taste with low level caffeine. In the US, the slow drip method of typical coffee-makers allows for more caffeine and less flavor. This is why people can drink several espressos a day and not get "the shakes."

The four most common ways to consume coffee in Italy are:

1. Espresso- a shot of black coffee in a small cup

2. Macchiato- an espresso with a dollop of frothy, hot milk

3. Cappuccino- an espresso with more frothy, hot milk in a normal cup

4. Latte Macchiato- a tall glass of boiled milk with a shot of espresso added

NOTE: Cappuccino and Latte Macchiato are only to be consumed in the morning and never after lunch or dinner. These are considered breakfast beverages here and to consume them after a main meal is a culinary faux-pas. The Italians find it revolting to drink hot milk after consuming meat, vegetables and wine, and believe it will interfere with digestion. Try an espresso or macchiato (or limoncello or grappa) instead!

Of course you can visit any of the elegant and historical coffee houses in the city for excellent coffee, but you don't really need to look that far. Here in Italy, the simple neighborhood bar on the corner also serves wonderful coffee. The following caffe bars are where my husband and I usually go for coffee.

One of the most well-known coffee bars in the city is Chiaroscuro, which also offers a nice aperitivo in the evenings. When I first entered this coffee bar several years ago with some friends, I was totally impressed by all the different varieties of coffee on display. There is always a new and exotic blend to try and it is usually advertised on a sheet of paper behind the counter. The coffee may be consumed right then and there or freshly ground, placed in a bag to go. If you are a true coffee-lover, Chiaroscuro offers a "Coffee Course" and you may want to take advantage of that during your visit to Florence.

For an unbelievably good cappuccino try Caffe Giacosa (it is the Roberto Cavalli caffe bar). The interior is posh and definitely the place to go if you are a fashionista. The baristas will even make a little heart or other design in the rich milk foam for you.

Another place is Moyo, which is better known as an aperitivo bar where people drink and hang out at night. In the morning, Moyo offers fresh pastries and really good coffee. I had a macchiato there with a friend recently and I was so pleasantly surprised that I have gone back several times. It's good enough for me to mention it in this article, so try it out if you are in the S. Croce neighborhood.

Caffe Sant' Ambrogio is another good coffee bar with a lot of character. Local Florentines gather round to discuss all kinds of things while sipping rich, dark espresso. They also offer a lively aperitivo in the evening where lots of people pour out into the S. Ambrogio piazza to mingle and socialize.

One important thing to keep in mind when going out for coffee is that it is a different price to sit and stand. If the bar offers seating, always clarify first with the barista if there is an extra charge to sit down. Some places have seating without table service, so there is no extra charge- you just have to carry your own coffee to the table.

Caffe Chiaroscuro- http://www.chiaroscurofirenze.it/

Caffe Giacosa- Via Spada 10/r (attached to the Roberto Cavalli shop on Via Tornabuoni)

Moyo- http://www.moyo.it/

Caffe Sant' Ambrogio- Piazza S.Ambrogio just off to the side of the church of S. Ambrogio

As always, thank you for reading!

Coming to Florence? VISIT: www.florenceinsider.com

xoxo, C