I’m not a coffee drinker, but for those of you who are, the following may be of some interest to you. It is quite easy to make your own espresso at home with a stovetop caffettiera. It seems to be “all the rage.”
The Naples Fleet and Family Support Center offers espresso-making workshops. I have not (as yet) had the opportunity to attend one during my visit, so I have summarized here how you can do it yourself, at home! (from an article by Melissa Kabukuru which
appeared in the “Panorama” newspaper).
In Italy, offering a small cup of caffe to guests is simply standard Italian courtesy and anytime is always a good time for a caffe. It’s a social drink and it can be quite common for people to drink half a dozen or so caffes a day!
It is possible to buy several different styles of complex machines for making espresso but in Italy, the popular model is the stovetop Moka coffeemaker which is sold here at the Navy Exchange in addition to being sold at other locations around town. You are advised to make a couple of batches to be immediately thrown away once you’ve acquired your pot. The first couple of tries just won’t taste good.
What kind of coffee should you buy? Italian supermercatos sell roasted coffee grounds as do the coffee bars in town and at the Navy Exchange and Commissary. (Kimbo seems to be a popular brand here). And now you are ready to proceed:
1. Fill the base of the caffettiera with cold water. (Cold water takes more time to heat up which gives the water more time to absorb the coffee flavor). Note the fill line indicated on the pot or fill to just below the valve.
2. Place the insert into the coffee maker. If the water rises up then you will know that you have put too much water in the pot. Add a few scoops of ground coffee into the funnel without compacting the coffee.
3. Fit the top part of the caffettiera onto its base tightly enough so that the water won’t leak out while heating up.
4. Heat on low. It may help to leave the lid up until the coffee begins to bubble a little. Once it does boil, remove the pot from the heat and close the lid. If you plan to serve from the pot, stir first.
–>
