A Cup o' Joe

The coffee culture here is so interesting to me. Everyone, but everyone, drinks coffee in its many permutations and variations.  You can even pick up "Pocket Coffee" at any grocery store or tobacconist, which is essentially a dark chocolate filled with espresso.

The thing is, it's like breathing.  It's a function so obvious and basic that no one comments on it or thinks about it.  We see things like a truck stopped (blocking traffic) so the driver can run into the local caffetteria to get a fix.  Today a customer brought in two cups to the butchers'... and they downed it then and there with no perception that it (to our eyes) was -- quite funny!  And I see this sort of thing all the time.  Meet someone in the street?  Let's go get a cup of coffee.  Around 10:00 every morning, everyone flocks to get their fix, and the "bars" are packed with people at the tables (many outside now that spring is arriving!) or standing next to the barista. The teachers bring their coffee into the classroom -- or a student may run out to get some for them. Almost every time we've been to the doctor's, Cinzia (the nurse? assistant?) has run out or been on her way in bearing coffee for herself and the doctor.

When I was in Vienna (admittedly a long, long time ago!), where they also really love their coffee, I remember it as more of an event.  The morning coffee was a protracted affair, lovingly considered.

Here?  Well, it's more like an absolute right or basic need.  The prices are great (1.10 for a wonderful cappuccino in a china cup with saucer, etc.) because no Italian would countenance a high price -- it would be like charging for oxygen, you know? Even at the airport, you can get a great cup of java for less than $2.  Again, with china cups, saucers, and metal spoons.

Our gym?  You know, where people go to get/stay fit?  Top of the menu, well above the protein shakes, etc. that you'd expect: a full range of coffee styles and preparations.  Cappuccino: 1 euro.

And me?

I'm off to get some coffee.

Alexandra