There’s no way around it: Italians like it short and sweet. No matter whether consumed at the kitchen table or propped up against the counter of a local bar, the quintessential Italian breakfast consists of nothing more than a quick snack laden with sugar and caffeine. I say snack, as it’s certainly not a meal, neither in terms of quantity nor in terms of the amount of time dedicated to it.

And yet, as tiny and swift as it may be, breakfast in Italy remains a ritual – and at the centre of that ritual is coffee. Italians take much pride in their coffee-drinking tradition, and take great care when it comes to brewing their own. Breakfast is no exception: for most, the day can’t start without un buon caffè; many end up having multiple cups throughout their morning, at home and on the move.