Many of the finest things enjoyed around the world are Italian in origin. We get some of our highest fashion, most beautiful art, music, and the finest foods and wines from Italy - it only makes sense that Italians are also proficient in the perfection of coffee. Like anything finely Italian, coffee in this country is also a work of art. Not only is it a work of art for the flavor but also for the enjoyment. Pleasure is serious business in Italy and that shows in their coffee as well as the manners in which they appreciate their coffee.

The good news is that the rest of the world is slowly but surely learning lessons from the Italian appreciation of all things wonderful. First of all, Italian coffee tends to be a darker roast with a flavor that is a little more bitter than the typical American prefers his or her coffee to be. That being said, Americans are slowly but surely developing a palate for coffee that is ever so slightly more refined than in decades past. In fact, as America opens its doors and its palate to more coffee options, Americans are generally finding that the coffees of the world have as much as its citizens.The darkness of Italian roast coffee makes it a challenge to roast as well as an art form in order to achieve the perfect roast. The only roast that is darker by nature than Italian roast is the French roast but that is a story for another day. If you plan to be traveling in Italy any time soon you should really plan to spend some of your time there in one or more of the many wonderful coffee houses that litter the cities and countryside alike. Coffee has become such a large component of the culture in Italy that John Grisham made mention of it in one of his books. The point is that you really cannot gain the full benefit of Italian culture if you do not spend at least some of your travels in the coffee houses experiencing some of the coffee that belongs uniquely to Italy.

If you were practically raised on pre-ground drip coffee or (shudder to imagine) percolated coffee you are in for the shock of your life when you take your first sip of genuine freshly roasted and ground Italian coffee. As a matter of fact you might want to take a little time now practicing your "no really, it's not that bitter" face. While the bitterness of Italian coffee might be a challenge to your palate at first, it does take some getting used to, many people find that they fall in love with this roast and very little else will do.

Whether you are planning to travel to Italy for your next vacation or simply want to enjoy some of the wonderful flavors of Italy, your first taste is as far away as your local coffee shop in most areas. Be sure to stop in and take a small sample of their finest Italian coffee. Drink with an open mind and remember: even if you will be drinking your coffee in Italy and find it far too bitter, you can always order caffe Americano. This coffee is stronger than typical American coffee but much weaker than traditional Italian coffee and at the very least tolerable to palates that simply aren't receptive to flavor of Italian coffee.