Meal structure in Italy
Encyclopedia
Italy
has its own meal structure, which in essence is the typical European one, consisting of breakfast
, lunch and dinner
(there is also a mid-afternoon snack called merenda). Italians also divide a main celebration meal into several different courses.
. The traditional breakfast in Italy is simply Caffè e latte (hot coffee with milk) or coffee with bread or rolls, butter, and jam—known as prima colazione or just colazione. Fette biscottate (a cookie-like hard bread often eaten with butter and jam) and biscotti (cookies) are commonly eaten. Children drink hot chocolate
, plain milk
, or hot milk
with very little coffee. If breakfast is eaten in a bar (coffee shop), it is composed of cappuccino e cornetti (its French and European equivalents are brioches, or croissant-like pastries) (frothed hot milk with coffee, and a pastry) or espresso and pastry. Other products such as breakfast cereals, fruit salad (Macedonia), muesli
and yogurt are becoming increasingly common as part of the meal. It is very common for some Italians, mainly from the Central and Southern regions, to have a quick breakfast snack during the morning (typically a panino
, or bread roll). Even though this is the traditional Italian breakfast, it also varies by region. People may eat porridge in Northern Italy, and some of the colder regions such as the Aosta Valley or Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. As a matter of fact, in some regions such as Tuscany
and Umbria
, in the past, some children and adults alike used to drink red wine (notably Chianti
) in which they dip their biscuits. Today, and with the abundance of British tourists coming to Italy, the full breakfast is becoming more popular and can be found in several hotels. There are also ancient establishments, such as the Babington's tea room
in Rome, which still cater to tourists and locals which offer the Full British breakfast, including sausages, bacon, eggs, black pudding, mushrooms etc. (American breakfast dishes, such as pancake
s with maple syrup, are served there, too). In Italy, people usually have breakfast between 07.00 and 10.00.
. The introduction of fast-foods, takeaways and frozen/tinned foods has meant that Italians tend to eat less home-made food, yet fresh food is still quite common, and in many places people buy bread, milk and ingredients daily. Many adults still make their own food (i.e. tomato sauce from their own tomatoes), and takeaways are still not very frequent, notably in the more rural areas or Southern regions. Italians at lunch-time usually, even in normal days, have a layout: a first course, a second course and usually dessert or fruit.
With the introduction of fast-food restaurant chains, many workers or commuters tend to eat less at home and quickly have a meal at some restaurant like McDonald's
or Burger King
. Italy has got several foreign fast-food chains, and they are frequently found in big cities (Milan
, Rome
, Turin
and Naples
) or along motorways. However, to conserve the tradition of Italian food, Italy has several Italian fast-foods such as Autogrill
, which makes panini, little pizzas or more traditional Italian meals. Pizzerias are still very popular with people and many have lunch in them. In recent years, dürüm
, which Italians refer to as kebab
, has become widely popular with younger people.
s, but today other foods are eaten, such as yogurt, ice cream, granita
, fruit salad, nuts, pistachio
s, biscuits and cookies, cake, sweets, etc. Especially in centre Italy very commons merenda for the children are pane e olio (roasted bread with garlic, salt and oil) and pane e pomodoro (roasted bread rubbed with fresh tomatoes).
, broth
, salad
, cold meats, pasta
, or the leftovers of lunchtime.
, prosecco
, champagne or sparkling drinks. Sometimes small chunks of food are consumed, such as olives, crisps, nuts, cheese, sauce dips, little quiches etc.
, mortadella
, Parma ham etc.), cheeses (mozzarella
, scamorza), sandwich-like foods (panini, bruschette
), cold salmon or shrimp
s with sauces are usually eaten, but also more elaborated cold or hot dishes.
, pasta, soup and broth, gnocchi
, polenta
, crepes, casseroles, lasagna
s.
, sausage
, pork
, steak
, stew
, beef
, zampone, cod
(baccala), salmon
, lobster
, lamb, chicken
, or a roast.
, zuppa inglese
, panna cotta
, cake or pie, Panettone
or Pandoro
(these last two are only served on Christmast time). Ice-cream can be eaten too.
, Amaro
, Limoncello
or other fruit/herbal drinks are drunk. Digestivo indicates that the drinks served at this time are meant to ease digestion after a long meal.
Coffee is often drunk at the end of a meal, even after the digestivo. Italians, unlike many countries, do not have milky coffees or drinks after meals (such as Cappucino or Caffe macchiato), but strong coffee-drinks such as espresso
, which is often drunk very quickly in small cups at very high temperatures.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
has its own meal structure, which in essence is the typical European one, consisting of breakfast
Breakfast
Breakfast is the first meal taken after rising from a night's sleep, most often eaten in the early morning before undertaking the day's work...
, lunch and dinner
Dinner
Dinner is usually the name of the main meal of the day. Depending upon culture, dinner may be the second, third or fourth meal of the day. Originally, though, it referred to the first meal of the day, eaten around noon, and is still occasionally used for a noontime meal, if it is a large or main...
(there is also a mid-afternoon snack called merenda). Italians also divide a main celebration meal into several different courses.
Breakfast (Colazione)
Breakfast is the first meal in Italy, and traditional Italian colazione is continental in style, unlike the full British and Irish breakfastFull breakfast
A full breakfast is a meal that consists of several courses, traditionally a starter , a main course, tea with milk, toast and marmalade or other preserves. Many variations are possible....
. The traditional breakfast in Italy is simply Caffè e latte (hot coffee with milk) or coffee with bread or rolls, butter, and jam—known as prima colazione or just colazione. Fette biscottate (a cookie-like hard bread often eaten with butter and jam) and biscotti (cookies) are commonly eaten. Children drink hot chocolate
Hot chocolate
Hot chocolate is a heated beverage typically consisting of shaved chocolate, melted chocolate or cocoa powder, heated milk or water, and sugar...
, plain milk
Milk
Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...
, or hot milk
Milk
Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...
with very little coffee. If breakfast is eaten in a bar (coffee shop), it is composed of cappuccino e cornetti (its French and European equivalents are brioches, or croissant-like pastries) (frothed hot milk with coffee, and a pastry) or espresso and pastry. Other products such as breakfast cereals, fruit salad (Macedonia), muesli
Muesli
Muesli is a popular breakfast cereal based on uncooked rolled oats, fruit and nuts. It was developed around 1900 by Swiss physician Maximilian Bircher-Benner for patients in his hospital...
and yogurt are becoming increasingly common as part of the meal. It is very common for some Italians, mainly from the Central and Southern regions, to have a quick breakfast snack during the morning (typically a panino
Panino
Panini are small, filled, bread rolls, which are sometimes toasted. They are Italian in origin, but now found in other countries.In Italy, panino is the word for a sandwich made with a bread roll. Sandwiches there are customarily made from a roll or loaf of bread, typically a ciabatta or a rosetta...
, or bread roll). Even though this is the traditional Italian breakfast, it also varies by region. People may eat porridge in Northern Italy, and some of the colder regions such as the Aosta Valley or Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. As a matter of fact, in some regions such as Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
and Umbria
Umbria
Umbria is a region of modern central Italy. It is one of the smallest Italian regions and the only peninsular region that is landlocked.Its capital is Perugia.Assisi and Norcia are historical towns associated with St. Francis of Assisi, and St...
, in the past, some children and adults alike used to drink red wine (notably Chianti
Chianti
Chianti is a red Italian wine produced in Tuscany. It was historically associated with a squat bottle enclosed in a straw basket, called a fiasco ; however, the fiasco is only used by a few makers of the wine now; most Chianti is now bottled in more standard shaped wine bottles...
) in which they dip their biscuits. Today, and with the abundance of British tourists coming to Italy, the full breakfast is becoming more popular and can be found in several hotels. There are also ancient establishments, such as the Babington's tea room
Babington's tea room
Babington's tea room is a traditional English tea shop at the foot of the Spanish Steps, in the Piazza di Spagna in Rome, Italy.-History:The shop was founded in 1893 by Isabel Cargill and Anne Marie Babington, two English women, with the intention of catering for the many English-speaking people in...
in Rome, which still cater to tourists and locals which offer the Full British breakfast, including sausages, bacon, eggs, black pudding, mushrooms etc. (American breakfast dishes, such as pancake
Pancake
A pancake is a thin, flat, round cake prepared from a batter, and cooked on a hot griddle or frying pan. Most pancakes are quick breads; some use a yeast-raised or fermented batter. Most pancakes are cooked one side on a griddle and flipped partway through to cook the other side...
s with maple syrup, are served there, too). In Italy, people usually have breakfast between 07.00 and 10.00.
Lunch (Pranzo)
Lunch is traditionally regarded as being the most important meal. Most shops close down in the pausa pranzo (lunch break) between 13.00 and 16.00; until recent times, most people, even workers, came home to have a meal with their family, often inviting friends and relatives to come along. Abroad, Italians are often stereotyped of having long meals, however this is not always the case, and as the country has become more modernized, there is often less time for long meals. Despite this, most Italian families still get together for a big family meal on Sundays, special occasions and Saints' and Holy days. In most schools, children are given a lunch break where they can choose to go home and have lunch, or stay at the school canteen/cafeteria or eat a packed lunchPacked lunch
thumb|A typical American bagged lunchthumb|[[Bento]] packed lunchA packed lunch is a lunch prepared at home and carried to be eaten somewhere else, such as school, a workplace, or at an outing...
. The introduction of fast-foods, takeaways and frozen/tinned foods has meant that Italians tend to eat less home-made food, yet fresh food is still quite common, and in many places people buy bread, milk and ingredients daily. Many adults still make their own food (i.e. tomato sauce from their own tomatoes), and takeaways are still not very frequent, notably in the more rural areas or Southern regions. Italians at lunch-time usually, even in normal days, have a layout: a first course, a second course and usually dessert or fruit.
With the introduction of fast-food restaurant chains, many workers or commuters tend to eat less at home and quickly have a meal at some restaurant like McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
or Burger King
Burger King
Burger King, often abbreviated as BK, is a global chain of hamburger fast food restaurants headquartered in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The company began in 1953 as Insta-Burger King, a Jacksonville, Florida-based restaurant chain...
. Italy has got several foreign fast-food chains, and they are frequently found in big cities (Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
and Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
) or along motorways. However, to conserve the tradition of Italian food, Italy has several Italian fast-foods such as Autogrill
Autogrill
Autogrill is an Italian-based, multinational catering and retail company, the world's largest in the travel dining sector, which is controlled with a 59% stake by the Edizione Holding investment vehicle of the Benetton family. Autogrill runs operations in 40 different countries, primarily in Europe...
, which makes panini, little pizzas or more traditional Italian meals. Pizzerias are still very popular with people and many have lunch in them. In recent years, dürüm
Durum
Durum wheat or macaroni wheat is the only tetraploid species of wheat of commercial importance that is widely cultivated today...
, which Italians refer to as kebab
Kebab
Kebab is a wide variety of meat dishes originating in Middle East and later on adopted by the Middle East, and Asia Minor, and now found worldwide. In English, kebab with no qualification generally refers more specifically to shish kebab served on the skewer...
, has become widely popular with younger people.
Mid-afternoon snack (Merenda)
In Italy, many children and adults alike have a mid-afternoon snack called merenda at around 15.00 to 16.30/17.00. It is usually had after school or in the middle of the afternoon, and can be anything. Traditionally, merendas where usually similar to breakfasts, and might have been a hot milky drink with bread and honey/jam or cornetti/briocheBrioche
Brioche is a highly enriched French pastry, whose high egg and butter content give it a rich and tender crumb. It is "light and slightly puffy, more or less fine, according to the proportion of butter and eggs" It has a dark, golden, and flaky crust, frequently accentuated by an egg wash applied...
s, but today other foods are eaten, such as yogurt, ice cream, granita
Granita
Granita is a semi-frozen dessert made from sugar, water and various flavorings. Originally from Sicily, although available all over Italy , it is related to sorbet and italian ice. However, in most of Sicily, it has a coarser, more crystalline texture...
, fruit salad, nuts, pistachio
Pistachio
The pistachio, Pistacia vera in the Anacardiaceae family, is a small tree originally from Persia , which now can also be found in regions of Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Greece, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, India, Pakistan, Egypt, Sicily and possibly Afghanistan , as well as in the United States,...
s, biscuits and cookies, cake, sweets, etc. Especially in centre Italy very commons merenda for the children are pane e olio (roasted bread with garlic, salt and oil) and pane e pomodoro (roasted bread rubbed with fresh tomatoes).
Dinner (Cena)
Dinner is usually and traditionally a light meal in Italy. When Italians dine out, they usually do so for dinner, or cena, rather than lunch, and pizzerias and restaurants are popular choices. For cena, people usually have lighter food, such as soupSoup
Soup is a generally warm food that is made by combining ingredients such as meat and vegetables with stock, juice, water, or another liquid. Hot soups are additionally characterized by boiling solid ingredients in liquids in a pot until the flavors are extracted, forming a broth.Traditionally,...
, broth
Broth
Broth is a liquid food preparation, typically consisting of either water or an already flavored stock, in which bones, meat, fish, cereal grains, or vegetables have been simmered. Broth is used as a basis for other edible liquids such as soup, gravy, or sauce. It can be eaten alone or with garnish...
, salad
Salad
Salad is any of a wide variety of dishes, including vegetable salads; salads of pasta, legumes, eggs, or grains; mixed salads incorporating meat, poultry, or seafood; and fruit salads. They may include a mixture of cold and hot, often including raw vegetables or fruits.Green salads include leaf...
, cold meats, pasta
Pasta
Pasta is a staple food of traditional Italian cuisine, now of worldwide renown. It takes the form of unleavened dough, made in Italy, mostly of durum wheat , water and sometimes eggs. Pasta comes in a variety of different shapes that serve for both decoration and to act as a carrier for the...
, or the leftovers of lunchtime.
Traditional structure of Italian meal
A structure of a traditional Italian meal in its full form.Aperitivo
The aperitivo opens a meal, and it is virtually the same to an appetiser or drinks given at the beginning of a meal. Most people gather around standing up and have alcoholic/non-alcoholic drinks such as wineWine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
, prosecco
Prosecco
Prosecco is an Italian white wine — generally a Dry or Extra Dry sparkling wine — normally made from Glera grapes. DOC prosecco is produced in the regions of Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia in Italy, and traditionally mainly in the areas near Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, in the hills...
, champagne or sparkling drinks. Sometimes small chunks of food are consumed, such as olives, crisps, nuts, cheese, sauce dips, little quiches etc.
Antipasto
The antipasto is the slightly heavier starter course. It is usually cold (not in all cases) and lighter than the first course. Cold meats and hams (salamiSalami
Salami is cured sausage, fermented and air-dried meat, originating from one of a variety of animals. Historically, salami has been popular among Southern European peasants because it can be stored at room temperature for periods of up to 10 years, supplementing a possibly meager or inconsistent...
, mortadella
Mortadella
Mortadella is a large Italian sausage or cold cut made of finely hashed or ground, heat-cured pork sausage, which incorporates at least 15% small cubes of pork fat . Mortadella is a staple product of Bologna, Italy...
, Parma ham etc.), cheeses (mozzarella
Mozzarella
Mozzarella is an Italian Traditional Speciality Guaranteed food product. The term is used for several kinds of Italian cheeses that are made using spinning and then cutting :...
, scamorza), sandwich-like foods (panini, bruschette
Bruschetta
Bruschetta is an antipasto from Italy whose origin dates to at least the 15th century. It consists of roasted bread rubbed with garlic and topped with extra-virgin olive oil, salt and pepper...
), cold salmon or shrimp
Shrimp
Shrimp are swimming, decapod crustaceans classified in the infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. Adult shrimp are filter feeding benthic animals living close to the bottom. They can live in schools and can swim rapidly backwards. Shrimp are an important...
s with sauces are usually eaten, but also more elaborated cold or hot dishes.
Primo
The primo is the first course. It is hot food and heavier than the antipasto, but lighter than the second course. It usually consists of non-meat or fish like foods. Examples of things which would be eaten at a primo could be risottoRisotto
Risotto is a class of Italian dishes of rice cooked in broth to a creamy consistency. The broth may be meat-, fish-, or vegetable-based; many kinds include Parmesan cheese, butter, and onion...
, pasta, soup and broth, gnocchi
Gnocchi
Gnocchi are various thick, soft dumplings. They may be made from semolina, ordinary wheat flour, flour and egg, flour, egg, and cheese, potato, bread crumbs, or similar ingredients. The smaller forms are called gnocchetti....
, polenta
Polenta
Polenta is a dish made from boiled cornmeal. The word "polenta" is borrowed from Italian.-Description:Polenta is made with ground yellow or white cornmeal , which can be ground coarsely or finely depending on the region and the texture desired.As it is known today, polenta derives from earlier...
, crepes, casseroles, lasagna
Lasagna
Lasagna is a wide and flat type of pasta and possibly one of the oldest shapes. As with most other pasta shapes, the word is generally used in its plural form lasagne in Italy and the U.K. Traditionally, the dough was prepared in Southern Italy with semolina and water and in the northern regions,...
s.
Secondo
The secondo is the heartiest and main course of an Italian meal, sometimes called the piatto principale or the main course/meal. Foods consumed in this course include different meats and types of fish, including turkeyTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, sausage
Sausage
A sausage is a food usually made from ground meat , mixed with salt, herbs, and other spices, although vegetarian sausages are available. The word sausage is derived from Old French saussiche, from the Latin word salsus, meaning salted.Typically, a sausage is formed in a casing traditionally made...
, pork
Pork
Pork is the culinary name for meat from the domestic pig , which is eaten in many countries. It is one of the most commonly consumed meats worldwide, with evidence of pig husbandry dating back to 5000 BC....
, steak
Steak
A steak is a cut of meat . Most are cut perpendicular to the muscle fibers, improving the perceived tenderness of the meat. In North America, steaks are typically served grilled, pan-fried, or broiled. The more tender cuts from the loin and rib are cooked quickly, using dry heat, and served whole...
, stew
Stew
A stew is a combination of solid food ingredients that have been cooked in liquid and served in the resultant gravy. Ingredients in a stew can include any combination of vegetables , meat, especially tougher meats suitable for slow-cooking, such as beef. Poultry, sausages, and seafood are also used...
, beef
Beef
Beef is the culinary name for meat from bovines, especially domestic cattle. Beef can be harvested from cows, bulls, heifers or steers. It is one of the principal meats used in the cuisine of the Middle East , Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and the United States, and is also important in...
, zampone, cod
Cod
Cod is the common name for genus Gadus, belonging to the family Gadidae, and is also used in the common name for various other fishes. Cod is a popular food with a mild flavor, low fat content and a dense, flaky white flesh. Cod livers are processed to make cod liver oil, an important source of...
(baccala), salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
, lobster
Lobster
Clawed lobsters comprise a family of large marine crustaceans. Highly prized as seafood, lobsters are economically important, and are often one of the most profitable commodities in coastal areas they populate.Though several groups of crustaceans are known as lobsters, the clawed lobsters are most...
, lamb, chicken
Chicken
The chicken is a domesticated fowl, a subspecies of the Red Junglefowl. As one of the most common and widespread domestic animals, and with a population of more than 24 billion in 2003, there are more chickens in the world than any other species of bird...
, or a roast.
Contorno
With the secondo is served the contorno, which are the side plates. This usually consists in raw or cooked, hot or cold, vegetables.Dolce
After the secondo there is the dolce, or dessert. It is popular, and meals eaten here depend by region and occasion. Common ones include tiramisuTiramisu
Tiramisu, , , literally "pick me up", is an Italian cake and dessert.It is made of ladyfingers dipped in coffee, layered with a whipped mixture of egg yolks and mascarpone, and flavored with liquor and cocoa...
, zuppa inglese
Zuppa Inglese
Zuppa Inglese is an Italian custard-based dessert.-History:Recipes for this sweet first appeared in the towns of Parma, Bologna, Forlì, Ferrara and Reggio Emilia, all in the Emilia-Romagna region, in the late 19th century...
, panna cotta
Panna cotta
Panna cotta is an Italian dessert made by simmering together cream, milk and sugar, mixing this with gelatin, and letting it cool until set. It is generally from the Northern Italian region of Piemonte, although it is eaten all over Italy, where it is served with wild berries, caramel, chocolate...
, cake or pie, Panettone
Panettone
thumb|200px|right|A non-traditionally shaped panettone loaf.Panettone is a type of sweet bread loaf originally from Milan , usually prepared and enjoyed for Christmas and New Year in Italy, Malta, Brazil, Germany and Switzerland, and is one of the symbols of the city of Milan. Maltese nationals are...
or Pandoro
Pandoro
Pandoro is a traditional Italian sweet yeast bread, most popular around Christmas and New Year. Typically a Veronese product, pandoro is traditionally shaped like a frustum with an 8 pointed-star section....
(these last two are only served on Christmast time). Ice-cream can be eaten too.
Frutta con frutta secca/formaggio
After the dolce, there is fruit or frutta, which is eaten often with nuts or cheese to accompany it. There is no established set of fruits, though local traditions may dictate otherwise.Digestivo
The digestivo, also called ammazzacaffè if served after the coffee, is the drink to conclude the meal. Drinks such as GrappaGrappa
Grappa is an alcoholic beverage, a fragrant, grape-based pomace brandy of Italian origin that contains 35%–60% alcohol by volume...
, Amaro
Amaro (drink)
Amaro is a variety of Italian herbal liqueur, commonly drunk as an after-dinner digestif. It is usually bitter and sweet, sometimes syrupy, usually with an alcohol content between 16% and 35%...
, Limoncello
Limoncello
Limoncello is an Italian lemon liqueur mainly produced in Southern Italy, especially in the region around the Gulf of Naples, the Sorrentine Peninsula and the coast of Amalfi and islands of Procida, Ischia and Capri, but also in Sicily, Sardinia, Menton in France, and the Maltese island of Gozo...
or other fruit/herbal drinks are drunk. Digestivo indicates that the drinks served at this time are meant to ease digestion after a long meal.
Caffè
Espresso
Espresso is a concentrated beverage brewed by forcing a small amount of nearly boiling water under pressure through finely ground coffee. Espresso is widely known throughout the world....
, which is often drunk very quickly in small cups at very high temperatures.