It’s well-known that Italians are passionate about coffee; the way it’s prepared though (in addition to the cost of a cup of coffee, much cheaper in the south) changes from region to region, or even from city to city. The main differences are, as in many other aspects of Italian life, between the north and the south.

In the south, coffee is preferred strong and creamy; before it’s gulped down, people like to drink a small glass of cold water to cleanse the palate, so it will better withstand the high temperature of the coffee and amplify its taste and persistence (drinking water after takes away the aroma produced by coffee in the mouth). The aftertaste must be sharp and slightly bitter, which some balance with the addition of sugar.