The Italians pretty much invented the way the rest of the world confects, serves and imbibes coffee, from the lingo (cappuccino, latte, macchiato) to the steam-driven espresso machine (first pioneered by Angelo Moriondo in Turin in 1884), to the stylish brands (Illy and Lavazza). If coffee has a spiritual home, this is it.
Foreign attempts to adapt and embellish coffee with fancy milkshakes and frappuccinos are treated as a form of sacrilege in Italy, where cafes remain fiercely traditional. Many international chains have yet to open a franchise here, while independently run cafes staffed by ultra-professional baristas are the rule rather than the exception.
