A History of Coffee 3) Espresso Lungo: The slow road to Italy’s democratic espresso culture
Apr 17, 2023
Travel back to 1980s Milan, where Howard Schultz's chance encounter with an espresso bar revolutionized coffee culture. Discover how Italy's espresso tradition evolved from thin, bland brews to rich, theatrical experiences. Explore the impact of early espresso machines and the social changes after WWII that revolutionized coffee-making. The episode highlights the globalization of Italian coffee rituals and modern trends, juxtaposing traditional methods with contemporary convenience.
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Schultz’s Milan Moment
- Howard Schultz walked into a Milan espresso bar in the mid-1980s and saw theatrical barista service.
- That single visit inspired Schultz to bring the Italian coffee-bar theatre to America and shape Starbucks.
Three Pillars Of The Italian Espresso
- The classic Milan espresso experience combined three elements: espresso-style coffee, theatrical stand-up bars, and affordability.
- Those three pieces only came together surprisingly recently in Italy's history.
Venice As Italy’s Coffee Gateway
- Coffee first appears in Italy via Venice in the 1500s and shows up in apothecary manifests before cafes.
- The earliest credible sit-down coffee house record in Venice dates to the 1680s and coffee spreads rapidly from the 1740s.
