Italy is synonymous with some of the finest tasting coffees in the world. And there’s no better place to experience the true authentic taste of Italian coffee than in Italy. Since we can’t be expected to fly off to Italy for an Italian coffee, why not do the next best thing and make your own.

Making Italian style coffee is very easy. With a few basic elements, you’ll soon be enjoying a little taste of Italy in your own home.


Drinking Coffee Italian Style For the average Italian, a cup of coffee is an espresso, or caffe which they drink out of small, porcelain cups. Espresso-based milky coffees such as cappuccinos and lattes are only ever drunk in the morning. Throughout the rest of the day espressos or variations such as the doppio (double strength espresso) are drunk.

When Italians drink their coffee, they rarely do it sitting down. Their coffee is designed to be an enjoyable experience, but a short one. That tiny espresso cup doesn’t hold much coffee and as such, takes only a couple of moments to down. The Coffee Italian coffee is most often made using Arabica coffee beans which have a rich flavor and low caffeine content.

To create the freshest possible taste for your coffee, it’s best to grind your own coffee beans before making each cup of espresso. But if you don’t have time for that, there are many suitable pre-ground alternatives. Two of the most popular Italian ground coffees are made by Illy and Lavazza. Both of these brands are sold worldwide and produce authentic tasting Italian style coffee.

The Coffee Maker 

There are two popular methods for making Italian style coffee, both of which result in a satisfying cup of espresso. First is the Moka stove top steel coffee pot. These pots are very easy to use and they’re widely used in homes throughout Italy.

When you’re making your coffee in a Moka pot, use filtered water whenever possible. This will improve the taste of your coffee while helping prevent limescale deposits inside your coffee pot. When spooning your coffee into the filter, gently pat the coffee down. Pressing too hard won’t allow the steam to filter through effectively.

If you’re unsure how much coffee to use, start off with a heaped tablespoon for each cup of espresso and adjust the amount to your taste. As soon as you hear your coffee spluttering through the funnel, take your pot off the heat to prevent it burning.

Espresso Coffee Machine

Although the Moka pots make a very decent cup of coffee, they don’t produce the thick crema (foam) on top. So if you’re partial to the crema, you’ll need to make your Italian style coffee in a proper espresso coffee maker following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Nespresso U espresso coffee machine

But whichever method of coffee maker you use, it should result in your coffee being made at the perfect temperature for you to drink straight away.

The Cup 

Once your coffee is brewed and ready to pour, you’ll need to have the right cup. Pouring your espresso into any old mug or worse, a cardboard cup just won’t do. Proper Italian espresso should be poured out into a chunky white porcelain espresso cup.


The white color is chosen so the drinker can fully appreciate the contrast of the beautiful rich brown of the coffee against the stark whiteness of the cup. And the thickness of the cup is important too, since this helps keep your coffee at the optimum temperature.


Making your own Italian style coffee at home is very easy. By using fresh Italian ground coffee with an authentic Italian style coffee pot or machine together with an exquisite espresso cup to serve it up, you have all the ingredients for making a perfect cup of Italian style coffee.

Italian Stove Top Maker (left), Lavazza amodo mio (right)

Now all that’s left to do is to stand up, Italian style, and hold your delicate espresso cup to your nose. Take a whiff of that delicious aroma and slowly savor your freshly brewed cup of real Italian style coffee. Gustare il vostro caffè (enjoy your coffee)!