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Sorbetto di Caffe for a Monday

sorbetto di caffe

 copyright 2009, Maria Liberati

Today is a coffee Monday! Even though I have heard that drinking hot coffee in the heat of summer keeps your body cool, you may want  to drink your coffee cool on a hot summer day.

The dish for today in The Basic Art of Italian Cooking Kitchen was a Sorbetto di Caffe (Coffee Sorbet). It was great as an after dinner dessert..replacing my usual cup of hot coffee.

It’s really quite easy, made with simple  ingredients, no special equipment  needed to make it. Before the summer is gone try this for a dessert or a cool afternoon treat! Reminds me a of a stroll through the center of Rome and taking a coffee sorbetto in one of the chic coffee bars.. I can see it now..passing the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain the hot Roman sun beating down and nothing but a sorbetto di caffe will do!

Sorbetto Di Caffe

*1/4 cup of white sugar

*4 espresso size cups of espresso  coffee

*1 cup water

Make 4 cups of espresso in a 4 cup of espresso and let cool.In a saucepan place 1 cup coffee sorbetcooled coffee. Place ina feeezer container or ice tray. In one hour stir mixture, and stir again in 2 hours. Then let freeze.  When frozen solid it is ready to serve. Stir with a dollop of whipped cream

Just in time for the Holidays:
The Basic Art of Italian Cooking -Holidays & Special Occasions- get yoru copy at www.marialiberati.com

*Get the bestselling book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking at www.marialiberati.com

*July 16th, Whole Foods market, Annapolis,MD, call store t oregister or email: events@marialiberati.com

July 18th- Whole Foods Market, Fair lakes/Fairfax, Virginia. A Tuscan Picnic and a wine pairing. Call store or email :events@marialiberati.com

July 31-August 2nd-Atalantic City Food & Wine Show, Bally’s Casino. Email: events@marialiberati.com

Mangia Bene, Vivi Bene,

Maria

http://twitter.com/Marialiberati

http://mariaandco.blogspot.com
 

 

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Cappuccino, Macchiato, Latte, Americano…

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copyright, 2009, Maria Liberati

Editor: Patrick Coyne 

Here’s a familiar scenario: It’s 7 AM on a Tuesday and you’re making that daily commute when you decide to stop off for a little caffeine laced pick-me-up at a local coffee shop. A hot cup of java to get you over the hump and through another day at the office. So you order a cappuccino, or Americano or macchiato from your local Barista. It’s something you’ve done a millions times before, but have you ever stopped to think about what these words mean? Or from where they originated? Sure, you know that an Americano is an espresso shot with hot water, but why exactly is it called “Americano”? Although these words have morphed into the coffee shop terminology we now commonly use, each one has a distinct origin that differs from their present meanings. Often times we assume these words and phrases are one dimensional but by exploring their genesis we can appreciate these drinks as more than just an eye opener but as the well crafted beverage that we sometimes take for granted.

Cappuccino may be the most popular coffee house drink in America. A shot of espresso topped off with a layer of foam, served dry with no milk. The ingredients of the drink are well known but cappuccino has a rich and intriguing history dating as far back as Italy in the 19th Century. The name cappuccino is taken from The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, named so because of their custom of wearing a hood with their habit. In Italian, cappuccino is the diminutive form of the word hood. Although the exact reason of the name is unknown, many believe it is because of the color of the drink, or the foam resting on top of the drink is likened to the hood itself. The first cappuccino machine was patented in Italy in 1901 and the common variation of the cappuccino was perfected by the 1950s.

This drink, like many others originated in Italy and translate into simple terms. The macchiato translates to “marked” or “stained” in Italian. The “stain” refers to the tiny dab of milk on top of the espresso shot. In this case perhaps the more eloquent “macchiato” sounds a lot more appetizing than if you order a small cup of hot “stain”. The dollop of foam was originally added as a way for Baristas to show the serving waiters the difference between an espresso with or without milk.

The Italian Barista serves a much different purpose than his American counterparts. The American Barista is generally just a coffee house employee but in Italy the Barista is revered as an expert in his particular field. Like a ‘coffee sommelier’, the Barista is painstakingly trained in the art of coffee preparation and has an extensive knowledge of coffee beans, their varieties and the espresso machine itself. That certainly puts the high school kid working at your local Starbucks to shame.

Which brings us to our final drink, our country’s namesake, the Americano,. This brew originated, like many espresso-based drinks in Italy and consists of an espresso shot and hot water. It’s similar to our traditional American drip coffee but is obviously a much stronger brew. The drink tends to be a bit of an acquired taste and is usually served black, in order to fully appreciate the difference in flavor between it and regular drip coffee.

It’s so often we tend to move through our routines without stopping to appreciate the small details that create the unique aromas and flavors of our coffee shop beverages. Taking the time to smell the roses (or in this case espresso beans) can expand our palettes and give us a thorough understanding of those early morning brews we love so much.

Indulgence in the Eternal City..

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 copyright, 2009, Maria Liberati

It is amusing to sit and watch how people that are extremely cold warm up. Some will stare in disbelief at their reddened hands, almost frozen and unable to move. Others seem to think that laughing  to shake off the cold’s icy touch is the best solution. Then there are those that will just sit without uddering a word, who seem to sit mute  almost as if  in shock.

After visiting the ‘square coliseum’, we knew we needed  some solution  to the cold wind.  The Solution ………was a visit to Palombini  (coffee bar) next door, the visions of sweet pillows of pastry and colorfully decorated cakes for Carnevale and Easter  was all that was needed to get us inside. That was the easiest decision, now came the world’s most difficult decision..what should we order or not order…

It was the perfect resting place for cold weary shoppers.. in the Eternal city how can anything but indulgence be your mission..food ,fashion, beauty, art, architeture..

To my next visit to Palombini and enjoy some tramezzini at home if you can’t meet me there.

Join me at The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria Liberati tm Cooking School in Italy on Sept 23-Oct 6th at the villa. Stay for 6 nights/ 7 days with us and enjoy hands on authentic cooking classes, vineyard tours, visits to artisan food producers, wine tastings and more. (Almost all inclusive)_Everything exept airfare..Included is all meals cooking classes, lodging, excursions, wine tastings and transport from airport and back. Limited to 12 participants and if yo uregister by May 1st you receive $200 off the price. An Experience you will never forget. Makes a great Mother’s Day gift!

Visit our recipes and articles page, updated frequently with all the recipes you have been asking for and more to come.

Mangia Bene, Vivi Bene

Maria

Anyone for a Morning Cappuccino???

caffe-mocha.jpg 

copyright, 2009, Maria Liberati, The Basic Art of Italian Cooking 

Living in Italy has taught me so much about appreciating some of the simpler pleasures in life. Things that are truly beautiful but yet so simple.. For instance …one of my  favorite things in the mornings here in Italy is the smell  of espresso brewing…  …I can’t seem to start my day unless I have a cappuccino and a cornetto (the Italian version of the croissant)…one of life’s simpler pleasures..  It is  like my motor isn’t running correctly or something is just is not right, but alas comes my cappuccino and cornetto…. and all seems right with the world my day can begin!! What is that about ‘carpe diem’??? at that very moment that my cappuccino and cornetto arrive I want to just stop time-if only for a few minutes…

The cold weather and the coffee bars have inspired us to also work on some recipes for coffee drinks here and there are so many that even that famous coffee place in the US (you know who I mean) would be stumped.

Here is a recipe for a dessert coffee drink done at the coffee bars here…enjoy and keep warm….

 Caffe Mocha

1/2 cup honey

1 tbsp of unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1 1/2 cups of hot espresso coffee

1/4 cup hot milk

1/4 cup whipping cream (unsweetened)

2 tbslsps powdered sugar

Place whipping cream and powdered sugar in a  chilled bowl, whip till peaks form. Place in refrigerator.

In another bowl. mix the honey with powdered cocoa and cinnamon and let sit for 5 minutes. Divide  and place mixture into 4 cups. Mix hot coffee with hot milk and distribute in cups. Stir and top with whipped cream mix.

For more great recipes get your copy of the best selling book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking at http://www.marialiberati.com

Go to http://mariaandco.blogspot.com

http://marialiberati.blogster.com

Mangia Bene, Vivi Bene

Maria

How to Make Cappuccino at Home

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copyright., 2008. Maria Liberati

The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria Liberati tm

http://www.marialiberati.com

Editor: Michela Pompeo

 

 

Cappuccino at Home

I have to admit that one of my favorite things about waking up in Italy is having cappuccino for breakfast. Oh, they sell it at that great big coffee company in the US-but it is not the same taste or the same experience. Not always having the time to go to the coffee bar in the morning ..we have learned how to  imitate  at home that great taste you get at the coffee bar.  With a little practice ,no matter  where in the world you are ..as long as you have a few things-especially  great coffee and fresh milk. and a moka pot..you should be able to wake up to the same experience I have every morning here. But be forewarned.. a great cappuccino in the morning can be come an addiction. If you read my blog about the explanation of the Italian word ‘voglio’ you will understand why a cappuccino in the morning has become my ‘voglio’  http://www.marialiberati.com/blog2/?p=286    in the morning. And if you really want to be mesmerized..add an Italian ‘cornetto’ (Italian version of a croissant) with that cappuccino..and you will have love at first sight…. now that’s amore..

 

What’s the difference between ‘white coffee’ and cappuccino (double ‘p’ and double ‘c’ in Italian)?

Well, basically, it is the foam. Cappuccino is widespread in all Western Europe and, I dare say, in America (North and South), too. Some nice variations have been made, (‘frapuccino’ for example…), but essentially it is made of milk and coffee in variable proportions, with FOAM.

If you want to make yourself a nice cappuccino at home, without any big or small electric machine (leave it to professionals..) you’ll have to get a simple ‘foam maker’ and a moka machine (see pictures below).

The latter is not really essential, it is only to make nice Italian coffee, but you can make ‘long/American’ coffee as well. The most important thing, in my opinion, is foam, and good, creamy foam, not a series of empty air bubbles.

 

 

 

 

Starting from coffee, assuming you’re making Italian coffee, what you need is a good coffee blend such as LAVAZZA (both types: gold and Silver), ILLY, GOPPION, BRISTOT, and the moka machine. This last comes in different sizes: 1cup, 3 cups, 6 cups, 12 cups. You can see in the picture above both the 1cup and the 3 cup machines. Each one of them is composed of 4 main parts: the upper part, where you’ll get the liquid from, the first round flat filter + rubber lining fixed to it, the actual filter and the bottom part. To make the coffee, then, you’ll have to fill the bottom part with water, insert the filter (make sure a little bit of water comes out of it); fill the filter with ground coffee, screw the upper part to the bottom one, put it on the stove. Coffee is ready when you hear a ‘gurgling’ sound.

Now take the ‘foam maker’: It is made of two parts: a pot and a piston, which is also its lid. Pour a little milk into the pot, not too much because there must be enough room for the milk to ‘swell’ (if you need more, for many cups, you’ll have to repeat the procedure). Warm the milk, take it out from the heat, insert the ‘piston-lid’, thus closing the pot. Then, manually, you’ll have to work the piston up and down very quickly for a couple of minutes and it will be ready.

Pour coffee first into the cup and then, very slowly, hot creamy milk. With a teaspoon you can help foam ‘slide’ into the cup. Add sugar to taste and/or a sprinkle of cocoa on top of it and enjoy your home-made cappuccino.

A variation: top your cappuccino with a spoonful of freshly whipped cream!

For more recipes get your copy of the best selling book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking at http://www.marialiberati.com

A coffee by any other name..in Hawaii??

In Italy  we are all professed coffee experts or we like to think so and a coffee that has a specific brand on it- like a designer label ..is always looked upon with favor, so we are somewhat coffee snobs and have designer brands we  favor..most are coffees that are roasted right in Italy and brought in from Africa or South America.

But have you ever imagined or thought of trying a coffee from Hawaii?.well think of it - a strong beautiful sun is there to nourish those beans with a rich soil to flourish in.

Well if you profess to be a coffee snob and think of South America & Africa having the best coffee beans in the world try Kona Luna Coffee.  It is smooth and no bitter after taste, so no ‘acida’ (acid stomach).  This company gives their coffee plants tender loving care and you can taste it in the quality of their coffee. Always perfect.. And roasted equally to perfection not burnt but roasted to bring out the flavor of the bean..

One of  the secrets of true not bitter ,superior taste is that  the coffee is made from 100% Kona Luna Beans, they’re not mixed with other beans of less quality that would diminish the quality of the taste. And this is evident of the clarity of the flavor.

 My Kona Luna Coffee blend of choice is Mahalo Mudslinger- it works well in my recipes & can be substitued for espresso. It comes across as a bold wake your senses up type of taste and..is the perfect morning eye opener or afternoon pick me up..which brings to mind my recipe for a ‘lighter Tiramisu’. I have included the recipe here, enjoy Mahalo Mudslinger in the recipe as well as a cup of it with it…

Tiramisu

1 1/2 cups Mahalo Mudslinger or  espresso coffee

2 teaspoons sugar

4 medium eggs
1/2 cup and 2 tsps. sugar
1 lb mascarpone cheese, at room temperature
35-40 savoiardi (ladyfinger cookies)

2 tablespoons bitter cocoa powder

4 ounces of dark dark chocolate shaved (for top of cake)

 

Prepare a strong  coffee. Dissolve two teaspoons sugar in it, while the coffee is still hot. Let the coffee cool to room temperature. Seperate egg yolks from egg whites into 2 different bowls.

Add ¼ cup sugar to egg yolks and beat till creamy. In seperate bowl, beat mascarpone cheese till creamy. Continue beating while adding in (a little at a time) egg yolk/sugar mixture.

Then beat egg whites with ¼ cup sugar and pinch of salt till soft peaks form. Fold egg whites gently into mascarpone mixture with wooden spoon.

 

Dip half of the ladyfingers in the coffee and place in the pan in a single layer.

Spread half of the mascarpone cream on the layer of ladyfingers..

Dip the remaining ladyfingers in the coffee and

Spread the remaining mascarpone cream on top of second layer of ladyfingers.

Sprinkle with cocoa powder and decorate with chocolate shavings and refrigerate for about three to four hours.

This is the original tiramisu recipe. If you want to make this a bit lighter, I find that a mixture of 1-8 ounce container of plain lowfat yogurt whipped together with 1-8 ounce pakage of non-fat or lowfat cream cheese makes a great lower calTiramisu

orie substitute for the mascarpone cheese and eggs.orie substitute for the mascarpone cheese and eggs.

Substitute artificial sweetener for the sugar although there is not that much sugar I nteh recipe.

Ladyfingers are not high claories and the small amount of cocoa and chocolate are fine and not loaded with calories.

So either way you can enjoy the dessert!

For more great recipes get your copy of the best selling book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking at http://www.marialiberati.com

How to Make (Light as an Angel) Anginetti Cookies

anginetti-cookies.jpg copyright, 2008, Maria Liberati

The Basic Art of Italian Cooking

Editor:Sara Harris

What is it about cookies (dolci- in Italian) that have even the harshest food critics saying, Mmm! Whether these sinfully sweet desserts are prepared warm and gooey or tastily crunchy, I’ve never met a cookie that even Santa Claus didn’t like. Derived from the Dutch word koekie, meaning little cake, in most countries cookies are referred to as biscuits. Dating back as far as the 7th century, these perfectly sized treats journeyed globally into the hearts of society by the 14th century, quickly becoming a scrumptious crowd-pleaser among travelers, street vendors, and social classes alike. By the 1600’s cookies marched straight into the ovens of the Americas, proving a multitude of recipes were anything but ‘cookie-cutter’. The delicious aromas springs a nostalgic vision of generations hovering over antique appliances, waistlines cinched in funky aprons, as family traditions and bakeoffs leaves us wanting more.

Indigenous to parties and holiday dinners, Anginetti (a personal favorite) is a traditional Italian cookie-biscuit crafted to pillowy-white hints of lemon, vanilla, and confectioners’ icing. Perfect for tea parties, I located a family recipe and skillfully tried it… unsurprisingly they tasted exactly how I remembered. Versions of Anginetti float throughout the internet, but if you’re not in the mood to bake visit http://www.bellasbakery.com or http://www.gullaces.com for delectably purchasable homemade goodies.

 

With a cookie-versatility ranging from chocolate sambuca, buccellati, cannoli, biscotti, dolce di fichi, as well as popular originals like chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin… it seems someone always has their hands in the cookie jar.

 

Anginetti Bite-Sized Italy (yields approximately 40 cookie-biscuits)

Cookies:

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp lemon zest

6 tbsp butter

½-cup skim milk

½-cup regular sugar (or Splenda)

3 whole eggs or ¾ cup of Egg Beaters

3 -1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

½ tsp baking soda

 

Icing:

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice

1-cup confectioners’ sugar

1 tbsp water

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees while lining large cookie sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil and non-stick coating.

 

In large mixing bowl, beat vanilla, zest, margarine, milk, and sugar with electric mixer on medium setting until texture is well blended. Add eggs one at a time, beating each addition, and then continue to beat mixture for 1 minute.

 

On low speed, blend flour (1 cup at a time), powder, and baking soda until consistency becomes firm, sticky dough. If needed, have wooden spoon available for mixing. Dust hands lightly with additional flour, rolling dough into bite-sized balls. Place approximately 20 onto prepared cookie sheet, spacing 2 “apart.

 

Bake 10-12 minutes, or until light golden brown.

 

Icing: While first batch is baking, combine vanilla, lemon juice, sugar, and water into a small mixing bowl, whisking ingredients until mixture is completely blended. Remove cookies from oven, placing a sheet of wax or parchment beneath wire rack. Using a small pastry brush, frost the tops of each cookie with icing, sprinkle with additional confectioners’ sugar, and transfer to rack for cooling. Begin second batch.

 

Still have a sweet tooth? Check out Maria Liberati’s delicious Cannoli recipe… http://marialiberati.com/blog2/?p=221

Be sure to visit http://www.marialiberati.com and get your copy of the bestselling book, The Basic Art of Italian Cooking, by Maria Liberati.

Espresso, Coffee, Capuccino..oh my…

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copyright, 2008, Maria Liberati

The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria Liberati tm

Editor: Sara A. Harris

 

There’s nothing quite comparable to the first sip of a steaming morning cup of willpower. The vitalizing awareness flows richly alongside its heady scent that billows throughout household hallways, bistros, and office corridors worldwide, teasing the senses of coffee aficionados everywhere. With a fluctuating economy, coffee is indeed a commodity to be reckoned, as reportedly, over 500 billions cups are consumed every year.

Once referenced as taking a ‘coffee break’… cappuccino, café au lait, espresso, café noir, lattes, regular, and decaf, has initiated its universal appeal that doesn’t appear to be slowing anytime soon. While most familiar are the caffeinated temptations of Seattle’s Best, Starbucks, and Dean & DeLuca, the essence of Italy is mimicked with every grande, venti, and double-shot known to man. In light of this stimulating replication, on July 6, 1998, the Istituto Nazionale Espresso Italiano (The Italian Espresso National Institute) was founded in the protection of this mini pleasure cup called, Espresso. http://www.espressoitaliano.org And let’s clear the air on the misconception that’s contrary to popular belief, it’s not called, Expresso.

 

The evolution of coffee has catapulted us from brewing pots of freshly ground beans, sinful 20 ounce concoctions of iced, nonfat, extra whip treats, and all the way back to that stout little shot of espresso. Discovered in the highlands of Ethiopia, the allure of coffee spread like wildfire among various countries and eventually found its place in Italy as well the Americas. Not only used as a pleasing habitual stimulant, societies in Africa and Yemen once utilized coffee as a vital part in religious ceremonies… and in the 17th century, it was actually banned from Ottoman Turkey as a contributing factor for unfamiliar political reason. Known for its Italian name, Cappuccino– a preparation of hot milk, espresso, and milk foam– was termed from the order of Franciscan Minor friars (Franciscans), called Cappuccini. Some hypothesize the drink’s name is based on the Italian word cappuccio, meaning hood. Nonetheless, we’ve managed (somehow) to take a historically delicious original and Americanize it with chain-inventions better known as, Frappuccinos. The dessert industry smartly capitalized on the notion of coffee and confection lovers, as the bean itself has become largely popularized as a decadent chocolate-covered treat. However, when eaten in great moderation, the antioxidants prove beneficial to healthier lifestyles. True enthusiast of the drink may wish to indulge their bold palates with a taste of Italy while visiting Grand Café & Tre Marie or for those desiring a hint of java flair that’s closer to home, try your local bistro for featured drinks.

In the end, the coffee-crazed, Cup of Joe’s, and java-junkies will inevitably keep these robust textures and rich aromas from ever dissipating. Served with breakfast and dessert or even a mid-afternoon pick-me-up… the craving keeps some marveling the idea of ‘coffee patches’.

 

Related sources:

http://www.grandcafetremarie.it

http://www.deandeluca.com

http://www.starbucks.com

http://coffeebean.com


Don’t forget to check out Maria Liberati’s favorite coffee recipe (Coffee Frullato) http://marialiberati.com/blog2/?p=189

For more great recipes get your copy of the best selling book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria Liberati at http://www.marialiberati.com

 

Espresso, Espresso…..

  copyright 2008, Maria Liberati

To every caffeine junkie who has ever stumbled into their favorite coffee bar at 7A.M. on a desperate quest for a morning fix it may seem improbable that espresso (the beverage that began our collective obsession with designer coffees) emerged from very humble origins.  The seemingly endless variety of espresso based drinks available to us today may make it difficult to believe that espresso itself was created to address a very functional need, one that we can all identify with. That being the need to cram ever more time into our increasingly busy days.

Invented at the turn of the 20th century by Italian Luigi Bezzera, the first espresso machine was decidedly utilitarian in design.  The owner of a Milanese manufacturing company, Bezzera was eager to increase the productivity of his employees. Believing that the best way to do this was to reduce the length of his workers coffee breaks, he set out to create a machine that would brew a cup of coffee in less time than conventional machines of the day. His final product was the world’s first espresso machine, a crude and gigantic contraption that produced a cup of coffee by forcing a combination of water and steam through coffee grounds at high pressures.

While the new process did produce a much quicker cup of coffee, it also caused the coffee to taste very bitter. It was not until 1905 when Desiderio Pavoni purchased Bezzera’s patent rights to the machine that this problem was solved. Realizing that the bitter taste was a result of the high temperature steam and water passing through the coffee, he set out to find the ideal water temperature and pressure to make the perfect cup. His findings concluded that brewing a cup at 95C and between 8-10 BAR of pressure produced the best espresso. These standards remain today.

Problems still existed however; the primary one being consistency. Because espresso machines were steam operated, it required a considerable amount of skill on the part of the operator or “barista” to ensure correct water temperature by constantly monitoring the open flame heat source. This meant that all but the most skilled baristas had a very difficult time maintaining consistent steam pressure and water temperature.

Also, this system relied on the barista to regulate how long the water valve was open which allowed the heater water to pass through the grinds. This determined the volume, consistency and overall quality of the espresso and was difficult to keep uniform as well. These dilemmas made it a tricky and expensive process to produce high quality espresso consistently and in significant volumes.

These problems too, proved solvable however. In 1948 Achille Gaggia revealed to the world the first modern espresso machine. By replacing the water valve with a spring loaded piston operated by a hand lever, he was able to create a machine that did not rely on steam to drive the water through the grinds. Water was pulled into a chamber which was pushed down slowly past the grinds directly by the operator. This allowed the water to move faster and harder through the grinds, eliminating the finicky and time-consuming business of relying on steam. As a result of the added pressure, this process also produced the now famous crema, a thin layer of reddish-brown foam that floats on top of the coffee and contains the proteins, vegetable oils and sugars from the beans themselves.

Although there have been other developments in espresso production since the Gaggia machine was introduced, the process remains essentially the same and it is Gaggia’s developments which are credited with bringing espresso to the mainstream.  Hence, making a shot of espresso is still referred to as “Pulling a shot”.

Arguably the most important ingredient in the recent designer coffee fad that has taken North America by storm, espresso is the foundation upon which companies such as Starbucks have built their army of non-fat, soy based whipped cream and caramel covered concoctions.  It is ironic that something of such humble and utilitarian origins should have sparked the creation of one of the largest growing luxury industries in the world today. The development of espresso has been a uniquely Italian marriage of form and function. It is no wonder that, from a culture that prides itself on cultivating the beauty and elegance in the function of the everyday, the undisputed king of coffees has emerged. 

For more information on the history of espresso visit:

AABREE Coffee- http://www.aabreecoffee.com/articles.cfm?articleID=10

Coffee Review- http://www.coffeereview.com/reference.cfm?ID=192

For great coffee recipes, get your copy of the bestselling book- The Basic Art of Italian Cooking .Go to http://www.marialiberati.com and receive $5 off retail price.

Next Week: What makes a perfect cup? Reviewing the elements of great espresso.

How to Order Coffee in Rome..

copyright 2008,. art of living,PrimaMedia,Inc

How to order coffee in one of the most famous coffee bars in Rome Italy and experience the ambiance of Antico Caffe Greco here.

How can you describe a sunny Sunday afternoon in Rome? It brings to mind the Italian saying “e dolce far niente” (how sweet it is to do nothing). It is an afternoon of doing nothing … in a special way!One of the great pleasures of Roman life is to sip a coffee at one of the elegant coffee bars and watch the world go by. But you can build your whole afternoon around that espresso … from the wonderful journey to the coffee bar to the arrival to your selection of seating or standing and your careful selection of beverage.

My favorite Sundays spent in Rome is a trip to via Via Condotti to Antico Caffe Greco.

Via Condotti is located in the centro storico- or the historic center- is a display of the finest not only Italian but European style. Who says that food and fashion have nothing in common? In Rome it is fashionably chic to get dressed up in the afternoon for this stroll or as we call it “paseggiata” (stroll or walk) and present a “bella figura”(dressed in your best) and stroll to one of Rome’s most elegant of coffee houses.

I have always observed that everything in Italy is set out like an opera- even daily life and my afternoon is not finished until the final act has occurred- and what a beautiful final act- that is my cup of espresso to end my afternoon or evening.

The Italian painter from the early 1900′s- Giorgio De Chirico described the Antico Caffe Greco best- Il Caffe Greco e l’unico posto al mondo dove sedersi e aspettare la fine- translated means- “It is the only place in the world where one sits and waits for the end”

The oldest, and the most elegant café in Rome, Café Greco has no competition in that respect. This café has earned its distinguished place in Rome’s history centuries ago and it is filled with an aura, mystery as wondrous as the geniuses who gathered there.

‘Imaginary’ (imagine) for a minute- an elegant salon filled with the most creative geniuses from around the world that have left in some way their mark, their creations and spent a large part of their life here..

As we say: “Incredibile”

Antico Caffe Greco’s former patrons reads like a who’s who- from Berlioz , Buffalo Bill, Dickens, Goethe, Hawthorne, Humperdinck, Keats, Liszt, Lord Byron, Mendelssohn, Stendhal, Twain, Wagner, Wells. To think Hans Christian Andersen lived upstairs….Rossini composed here..you can just hear it when you sit and sip your day away.

But at Antico Caffe Greco you don’t stand at the counter here. You see, this is not your typical bar. One sits here in an elegantly upholstered chair, all the more reason to sip and imagine you being one of the turn of the century intellectuals or “glitterati.” For in that period, coffee was known as the beverage of intellectuals.

A famous saying in Rome is that “there are 2 types of people in the world: espresso drinkers and non-espresso drinkers,” referring to how serious Italians take their coffee, as they consume 14 billion cups of espresso per year. So when you go to Italy, be sure that you are recognized as an espresso drinker.

Some tips for ordering coffee in Italy:

Caffe Corretto- espresso with a shot of grappa

Caffe Macchiato- (literally

Via Condotti is located in the centro storico- or the historic center- is a display of the finest not only Italian but European style. Who says that food and fashion have nothing in common? In Rome it is fashionably chic to get dressed up in the afternoon for this stroll or as we call it “paseggiata” (stroll or walk) and present a “bella figura”(dressed in your best) and stroll to one of Rome‘s most elegant of coffee houses.I have always observed that everything in Italy is set out like an opera- even daily life and my afternoon is not finished until the final act has occurred- and what a beautiful final act- that is my cup of espresso to end my afternoon or evening.The Italian painter from the early 1900′s- Giorgio De Chirico described the Antico Caffe Greco best- Il Caffe Greco e l’unico posto al mondo dove sedersi e aspettare la fine- translated means- “It is the only place in the world where one sits and waits for the end”The oldest, and the most elegant café in Rome, Café Greco has no competition in that respect. This café has earned its distinguished place in Rome‘s history centuries ago and it is filled with an aura, mystery as wondrous as the geniuses who gathered there.‘Imaginary’ (imagine) for a minute- an elegant salon filled with the most creative geniuses from around the world that have left in some way their mark, their creations and spent a large part of their life here..As we say: ”Incredibile”Antico Caffe Greco’s former patrons reads like a who’s who- from Berlioz , Buffalo Bill, Dickens, Goethe, Hawthorne, Humperdinck, Keats, Liszt, Lord Byron, Mendelssohn, Stendhal, Twain, Wagner, Wells. To think Hans Christian Andersen lived upstairs….Rossini composed here..you can just hear it when you sit and sip your day away.But at Antico Caffe Greco you don’t stand at the counter here. You see, this is not your typical bar. One sits here in an elegantly upholstered chair, all the more reason to sip and imagine you being one of the turn of the century intellectuals or “glitterati.” For in that period, coffee was known as the beverage of intellectuals.A famous saying in Rome is that ”there are 2 types of people in the world: espresso drinkers and non-espresso drinkers,” referring to how serious Italians take their coffee, as they consume 14 billion cups of espresso per year. So when you go to Italy, be sure that you are recognized as an espresso drinker.Some tips for ordering coffee in Italy:Caffe Corretto- espresso with a shot of grappaCaffe Macchiato- (literally means- coffee with a mark- referring to the milk) – so this is an espresso with a 1-2 tablespoons of frothy milkCappuccino- real espresso drinkers know that in Italy we only drink this in the morning. It is typically 1/3 espresso and 2/3 frothy milk.Not to be confused with…Caffe Latte- which is espresso with steamed not frothed milk. It is usually a double shot of espresso (3 ozs) with 5 ozs. Steamed milk.Mocha Cappuccino- 1/3 espresso, 2/3 frothed milk, but the finest cocoa powder is mixed into the espresso along with a spoon of sugar before it is topped with frothed milk.Americanino- if you must get the tradition al American- you will be served a shot of espresso in a large cup with another small pitcher of hot water, so you can make it “lungo” long- as they say. However, in Italy they are so used to Americans asking for this that at some bars if they detect an American accent they will serve this to you automatically.

Ciao for now!
Maria

http://www.marilaiberati.com

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