Bar or Café: Finding your Morning Coffee Fix

Dear SOON(ER) to be traveler,

As I am writing this letter today, I am accompanied by an old friend – a simple cup of coffee. Whether I am in the heart of Arezzo or a block away from Campus Corner, a good cup of joe is the best pick-me-up.

Coffee is a universal fix. Although I am about 5,432 miles from home, I find comfort knowing that freshly brewed coffee can provide so much satisfaction for people of all cultures. This feeling encouraged me to visit Coffee O’Clock.

Coffee O’Clock has become a frequent place I find myself visiting in Arezzo. Located in the heart of the city, I promise the Italian coffee experience can be found inside these walls. The best way I can define this experience is by explaining the culture of Italian coffee.

Rather than a café or coffee shop, the term bar is used. No, this is not a spot to order a gin and tonic. The purpose of an Italian bar is the liquid gold produced from coffee beans. Less sugar, milk, and sweetener is used, taking a simplistic approach to the drink. The roast is powerful and effortless.

I was advised that a cappuccino is the most popular coffee in Italy. Therefore, that is what I ordered. The friendly barista took my order, and I waited with excitement. Inside this white mug, laid a perfect balance of espresso and milk. Its foamy consistency and alarming taste made me rethink my take on the coffee back home. Rather than downing my coffee in sweetener and additives, the true flavor of the roast was revealed. The cappuccino was extremely thick, which leads me to my next take on Italian coffee.

The thickness of the drink made me realize why the consumption of coffee in Italy is vastly different from the US. This beverage is meant to be sipped, not chugged. Several café-goers, like myself, were seated inside the shop. Some were flipping through the newspaper, talking on the phone, or simply sitting in silence while sipping on their drink, no mobile orders or to-go cups in sight. Coffee in Italy is meant to be an experience. Savor the drink. Appreciate the taste. Soak up the environment.

I left satisfied and energized, revealing a new perspective on coffee.

Truthfully, I don't know which cup of coffee I prefer. Is it the familiarity I find inside a grande Starbucks tumbler or the porcelain coffee cup and matching saucer sitting in front of me right now? Both experiences are uniquely different, and I enjoy the flavor in both cups. In reality, the two euro experience I found at Coffee O’Clock cannot be replicated through a drive through or commercial coffee chain.

Before I sign off, I have one last coffee remark. My fellow reader, I encourage you to have a morning for yourself and invite a warm cup of happiness to join.

BOOMER,

Sarah