To viewers of the Winter Olympics opening ceremony the army of stovetop coffee makers which danced on stage in colourful guises will not have gone unnoticed. The traditional Italian moka was heralded among other symbols of Italian culture, from popular children's book character Pinocchio to 16th century Renaissance paintings, rendered by actors dressed in bold, monochromatic costumes.
It's safe to say every Italian home has a moka coffee maker, also known as a caffettiera. And even if coffee machines have increased in popularity over the past decade or so, the classic stovetop coffee maker remains a go-to ritual for many Italians (and beyond).
