Ammazzacaffè
Encyclopedia
Ammazzacaffè is a small glass of liqueur
usually consumed after coffee to dull its taste. It is a common Italian custom, especially after a generous tasty festive meal.
Ammazzacaffè is the popular Italian assimilation and adaptation of a usage born among aristocratic classes, where it was common to move to a different room to smoke and to serve a cognac
or a brandy
after dinner.
Nowadays it is still a common custom in Italy, even at lunch, and it is made of bitters
or a local liqueur. In some northern zones (Veneto
or Trentino regions) people used to rinse out the emptied coffee cup with liqueur (traditionally Grappa
) that they would then drink ("resentin"); this also happens in Piemonte, where this custom is called "pussacaffè".
Liqueur
A liqueur is an alcoholic beverage that has been flavored with fruit, herbs, nuts, spices, flowers, or cream and bottled with added sugar. Liqueurs are typically quite sweet; they are usually not aged for long but may have resting periods during their production to allow flavors to marry.The...
usually consumed after coffee to dull its taste. It is a common Italian custom, especially after a generous tasty festive meal.
Ammazzacaffè is the popular Italian assimilation and adaptation of a usage born among aristocratic classes, where it was common to move to a different room to smoke and to serve a cognac
Cognac (drink)
Cognac , named after the town of Cognac in France, is a variety of brandy. It is produced in the wine-growing region surrounding the town from which it takes its name, in the French Departements of Charente and Charente-Maritime....
or a brandy
Brandy
Brandy is a spirit produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35%–60% alcohol by volume and is typically taken as an after-dinner drink...
after dinner.
Nowadays it is still a common custom in Italy, even at lunch, and it is made of bitters
Bitters
A bitters is an alcoholic beverage that is flavored with herbal essences and has a bitter or bittersweet flavor. There are numerous brands of bitters that were formerly marketed as patent medicines but are now considered to be digestifs, rather than medicines...
or a local liqueur. In some northern zones (Veneto
Veneto
Veneto is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about 5 million, ranking 5th in Italy.Veneto had been for more than a millennium an independent state, the Republic of Venice, until it was eventually annexed by Italy in 1866 after brief Austrian and French rule...
or Trentino regions) people used to rinse out the emptied coffee cup with liqueur (traditionally Grappa
Grappa
Grappa is an alcoholic beverage, a fragrant, grape-based pomace brandy of Italian origin that contains 35%–60% alcohol by volume...
) that they would then drink ("resentin"); this also happens in Piemonte, where this custom is called "pussacaffè".