The typical Italian breakfast at the coffee shop is historically linked to espresso and cappuccino, and their variants, accompanied by a croissant (or a similar product). There are those who also add an orange juice and those who prefer to replace the sweet with something salty.
Often breakfast at the coffee shop in Italy is consumed at the counter and becomes an opportunity to exchange a few words with the barista. Alternatively, breakfast is experienced as a moment to share at the table with friends and family (but also colleagues).
However, it seems that this ritual is experiencing a moment of crisis. The Italian Espresso Institute (IEI) has opened a debate among Italian professionals. For most of them it is a fact that breakfasts at coffee shop have dropped in the past couple of years. There are several reasons: the fear of frequenting crowded places, smart working, mandatory vaccination certification and the increased habit of having breakfast at home (after purchasing home coffee machines during the lockdown).
The problem would therefore not be the price of the espresso. The average cost of a cup currently fluctuates between € 1.10 and € 1.30. The professionals listened to by the Italian Espresso Institute (IEI) also believe that improving the quality of coffee could encourage Italians to return to have breakfast at the coffee shop, even if this would involve a slight increase in the price (between 10 and 20 euro cents per cup).
If you have any questions about coffee in Italy, leave them in the comments and we will be happy to answer them!
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