Want to drink Italian coffee according to etiquette? Here are the rules you need to follow on your next espresso break or when serving to family and friends.

How to stir

Even if you don’t put sugar in your coffee, it is always preferable to stir espresso with a teaspoon so that the aromas are well distributed; according to etiquette, you need to stir in delicate movements, from top to bottom, without ever bumping the cup because making noise would be impolite.

Where to place the teaspoon

After stirring, etiquette says you have to place the teaspoon on the right side of the small plate where the cup rests. Do not put the spoon in your mouth: it is considered bad manners to taste the coffee with the spoon that was used to mix it (oops, I do that all the time).