Where it all began...
Coffee first arrived at the ports of Venice in the 17th century. The popularity swiftly blossomed, and it began to be enjoyed at social gatherings. Once coffee reached the Venetian ports through the Silk Road trade, it played an essential role in introducing coffee to Europe. One of the first coffee houses to open in Europe was the Caffè Florian in the heart of Venice. It's doors first welcomed coffee lovers in 1720, and its still there today!
Italian coffee etiquette
After decades of admiration for coffee, the Italian coffee culture may have discovers the perfect coffee etiquette: no cappuccino after mid-day. The Italian tradition dictates that a cappuccino is enjoyed at breakfast, and an espresso is the preferred choice after meals.
A cappuccino is considered a heavy drink due to the creamy milk, making it harder to digest. That's why its best enjoyed with breakfast as a hearty drink. Essentially, it all comes down to digestion; it is believed that this tradition developed organically over the years to aid digestion.
What does science say about this?
Science is in favour of Italian coffee etiquette. Coffee contains a lot of anti-oxidants, which are anti-inflammatory and beneficial for digestion. Also, these natural component of coffee stimulate the muscles to better digest the food. However, it's best to stick with black coffee as milk can be heavy and harder to digest.
We would love to hear your stories and traditions for a chance to be featured in our blog, be sure to email us!
