For as long as I can remember, I have always considered myself coffee’s #1 fan. Or so I thought. After coming to Milan, however, I have realized that I am placed far behind the nonnas and nonnos. I have encountered such a strong culture around coffee here. In Italy, coffee is not treated merely as a beverage to rely on as a caffeine boost to get through the workday; it is treated as a sacred practice that enhances everyday life.

In Italy, coffee time is all the time. In the morning, you start off with a milky coffee, often a cappuccino or a caffe latte, which is ordered standing at a cafe counter. Italians refer to this practice as “al banco,” or at the counter.

For breakfast, coffee is typically accompanied by a croissant. Your next coffee break occurs around mid-morning. This is when you’ll sip on a shot of espresso. After 11 AM, there is absolutely no tolerance for milk in coffee. Between lunch and dinner, a coffee break or “pausa caffe” is enjoyed to combat post-meal sleepiness. Sometimes, espressos are enjoyed along with dessert. The day revolves around coffee for both enjoyment and for an energy boost, not just the latter.

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