Making authentic Italian coffee | Top five rules to remember
The perfect Italian coffee can be made with a traditional moka pot or a modern espresso machine. Making authentic Italian coffee is an art, requiring careful techniques and a focus on quality ingredients. Getting this right can ensure an authentic Italian coffee experience from the comfort of your own home.
Here, we discuss the different types of Italian coffee beverages, how to make the perfect cup, and share details about the cultural elements that make this drink special.
Find out more about Italian coffee culture.
Read our top rules to making Italian coffee.
We answer common queries on Italian coffee.
Exploring the Italian coffee culture
In Italy, coffee is often enjoyed as a quick pick-me-up at the local coffee bar. In Italian culture, coffee bars serve as spaces to prepare for the day ahead or engage in conversation with locals. It is common for friends or colleagues to gather for a quick caffè at the local bar, often standing at the counter for a brief but meaningful exchange.
Italians have a deep-rooted appreciation for espresso and enjoying the perfect crema, drinking coffee in various forms and at specific times throughout the day. For some Italians, the morning ritual begins with the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee from a Moka pot, a staple in most Italian households. Find out more about Italian morning coffee here.
Key rules to remember when making Italian coffee
1. Respect the time of day when drinking your coffee
Italy has many types of coffee, each one tasting different and enjoyed at certain times. Here are some popular options and the time of day in which they’re typically consumed:
- Espresso: This strong coffee forms the base of Italian coffee culture. It is often taken quickly after meals. Find out more about Italian espresso here.
- Cappuccino: This favourite morning drink mixes espresso, steamed milk, and a thick layer of frothy milk on top. Find out how to make an Italian cappucino here.
- Caffè latte: For this beverage, more milk is steamed with less foam, creating a creamier and smoother texture. The steam wand is kept deeper in the milk for longer, producing minimal foam and resulting in a drink with a higher milk-to-coffee ratio and a thinner layer of foam compared to a cappuccino. Like the cappucino, the caffè latte is traditionally enjoyed before 11am, often alongside breakfast.
- Italian macchiato: The Italian macchiato, known as an espresso macchiato, is a classic espresso-based coffee beverage. The word macchiato means "stained" or "marked" in Italian, which refers to the way the drink is prepared: a shot of espresso is "stained" with a small amount of steamed milk or milk foam. The milk is added in such a small quantity that it softens the intensity of the espresso without diluting its strong, bold flavour. Although this drink includes a dash of milk, it is actually traditionally drunk in the afternoon, unlike milkier beverages such as the cappucino and latte. Read how to make an Italian macchiato here.
Read our complete guide to making Italian espresso here.
Enjoy a sweeter, refined blend with Carluccio’s espresso di Milano
Enjoy Milanese-style ground coffee from pure Arabica beans. We use 100% Arabica beans from Central and South America, Africa and Indonesia.
Our Milano espresso blend provides chocolatey, caramel and hazelnut flavours. To grind your own beans finely for use in an espresso machine, you can shop our Milano coffee beans here. You can also grind our Milano coffee beans coarse for use in a cafetiere, providing honey, toffee and nutty flavours. Alternatively, shop our cafetiere Milano blend here.
2. For authentic Italian coffee, using the correct equipment is vital
To make real Italian coffee at home, you need the right tools. Here are the must-haves:
Moka pot
This is a stovetop coffee maker, also known as a caffettiera. The Moka pot is a staple in many Italian homes and is seen as an authentic and traditional way of making fresh Italian espresso. The bottom chamber holds water, the filter basket contains coffee grounds, and the upper chamber collects the brewed coffee. The coffee maker's metal filter ensures a smooth extraction process. Read our full guide to the Italian Moka pot here.
Espresso machine
An espresso machine is a specialised appliance designed to brew concentrated coffee by forcing hot water through finely-ground coffee beans under high pressure. This method creates espresso, a rich and intense coffee base that is essential for many Italian coffee drinks, including the macchiato, cappuccino, and latte. The machine typically features a portafilter, which holds the coffee grounds, and a pump that generates the necessary pressure (usually around 9 bars) to extract the bold flavours and oils from the beans in a short brewing time, usually 25-30 seconds. Many espresso machines also come with a steam wand, used to froth milk for drinks like cappuccino or latte macchiato.
Coffee grinder
Freshly ground coffee beans significantly enhance the flavour of your brew, making them essential for achieving optimal coffee quality. Investing in a burr grinder is highly recommended, as it ensures a consistent and uniform grind size, which is crucial for extracting the full depth of flavour from your beans. Unlike blade grinders, which produce uneven grounds, a burr grinder allows for greater precision and control, resulting in a more balanced and refined coffee experience. Read our complete guide to choosing coffee beans for Italian espresso here.
3. Always use authentic coffee beans that have been roasted in Italy
Selecting the right coffee beans is essential for capturing the authentic taste of Italian coffee. Opting for authentic, high-quality Italian coffee beans allows for experimentation across various brewing methods to discover your ideal flavour profile. For instance, coarsely ground beans for a cafetière will produce different flavour nuances compared to a finer grind suited for espresso. When our Napoli beans are coarsely ground for a cafetière, they reveal distinctive notes of cinnamon, cherry, and molasses. However, when seeking the perfect beans for Italian espresso, focus on options that deliver the characteristic flavours of Italian espresso, such as hints of chocolate, caramel, walnut, or dark cocoa, when finely ground. To ensure authenticity, choose beans roasted in Italy, which guarantees a traditional and true Italian coffee experience.
Try different roasts and blends to find your preference. Think about how you will brew the coffee and the flavour you want. Some authentic Italian coffee brands offer different regional flavours, allowing you to try different roasts and blends. Come with us on a journey from the North to the South of Italy via three famous cities and their coffee.
Read how to choose the best Italian coffee beans here.
Enjoy a creamy, full-bodied coffee with our Roma blend
Roman coffee is known for its heavy lingering taste with a toasty, chocolatey, dark caramel and nutty profile, with a nod to the Ottoman Empire through its spiciness. Traditionally served very ristretto, with a lower dose of coffee and extracted hot.
Our Roma beans change in flavour profile depending on the grind. Grind “fino”, fine, for espresso for flavours of walnut, dark caramel and spice. Grind “grosso”, coarse, for a cafetiere and you will enjoy longer, softer flavours of almond, vanilla and milk chocolate.
4. Enjoy coffee as a quick ritual
Italians often drink their coffee quickly. It’s not an all-day beverage that you sip slowly. Most Italians drink their espresso in just a few sips, sometimes while standing at the café counter, making it more of a brief, social ritual than a long break. Read more about how to drink espresso the Italian way here.
Unlike in many other countries, where coffee can be consumed in large quantities and on the go, Italians savour smaller, more potent servings. The local Italian coffee bar is a hub of social interaction, where regulars are greeted by name and the barista often knows their preferred coffee order.
Read our guide to drinking espresso the Italian way here.
5. Grind the beans to the right size for maximum flavour
Begin by grinding your coffee beans to the right size. This is very important for the flavour. A good coffee grind helps the water pull out all the rich smells and tastes from the beans. Start by measuring your coffee beans carefully. For a moka pot, use enough beans to fill the filter funnel without packing them too tightly. For moka pots, a fine to medium grind works best. It should feel like coarse sand. For espresso machines, you need a much finer grind to ensure it can handle the high pressure of brewing.
Make sure to grind your beans right before brewing. This keeps them fresh and stops oxidation. This way, the flavour of your coffee stays great. Read how to drink Italian espresso here.
Shop our full coffees and hot drinks range to find out more about what we offer. For the perfect pairing with your coffee – explore our authentic Italian cakes and biscuits.
Buongiorno Caffe – Morning Coffee with Carluccio’s
Our Morning Coffee set brings you both our Milano & Napoli coffee beans, along with a classic 3 cup Bialetti Moka pot. Buongiorno!
Frequently asked questions
Can I use regular coffee for making Italian espresso?
Regular coffee beans and grinds are not ideal for making authentic Italian espresso . Espresso requires a specific type of coffee bean, typically medium to dark roast, and these beans should be ground very fine to ensure proper extraction under high pressure if you are using an espresso machine. Regular coffee, which is often coarser and lighter in roast, won’t produce the rich, concentrated flavour that defines espresso. For the best results, use coffee labelled specifically for espresso.
How can I maintain my coffee equipment to ensure the best taste?
Proper maintenance of your coffee equipment is essential for preserving the quality of your coffee. After each use, thoroughly clean any parts that come into contact with coffee, such as the portafilter, group head, and steam wand. Regularly descale your espresso machine to remove mineral build-up, which can affect brewing performance and flavour. For a moka pot, disassemble it after each use and wash it carefully to prevent coffee oil residue. Ensuring your equipment is clean and well-maintained will prevent stale oils and old grounds from affecting the taste of future brews.
