How to Break the Fast Like an Italian

Picture a classic breakfast in the UK and you’ll undoubtedly imagine a huge plate piled high with eggs, sausages, bacon, black pudding, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms and toast – a proper full English that’s sure to leave you pleasantly stuffed and ready for a nap. Italians take a different approach to breakfast. Rather than eating a big meal of authentic Italian food, we like to keep our mornings a bit lighter (and we always make coffee a priority!). Save the full English for another day – here’s how to serve breakfast Italian-style.

But First, Coffee

If you’ve ever been to Italy, you’re likely to have witnessed the country’s incredible coffee culture. Each morning, Italians flock to their local cafés for a rich, robust brew. While a simple espresso is the standard order for many Italians, some people like a milkier coffee in the morning: a cappuccino (espresso, steamed milk foam and a dusting of cocoa), a caffé latte (espresso and steamed milk) and a caffé macchiato (espresso ‘marked’ with a bit of foam) are other popular options – but take note: milky coffees are taboo in Italy after 11am!

In Italy, coffee is not something to be mulled over for hours while reading the paper. If you’re in a café, coffee is enjoyed quickly (though ordering more than one is common, and even encouraged). However, coffee is not limited to speedy sips in romantic Italian cafés.

When making coffee in their own homes, Italians often use Bialetti-style coffee makers to make strong, aromatic blends. At Diforti, we prefer full-bodied coffees like Moak Organic, which has subtle notes of cocoa and hazelnuts. Put down the tea and brew your coffee short and strong, and you’ll be caffeinating like an Italian in no time.

A Sweet Treat to Start the Day

If you’re a fan of authentic Italian food, you may be tempted to run out to your local Italian delicatessen in London for cured meats to pair with Pecorino-kissed scrambled eggs and toast – but most Italians wouldn’t dream of taking a savoury approach to breakfast.

Instead, an Italian uses the morning meal as an opportunity to satisfy their sweet tooth. They nibble on little biscuits or eat pastries with their morning coffee. To follow in the footsteps of the people of Italy, try cantuccini with dark chocolate or almonds. These sweet, crunchy biscuits are the perfect complement to a hot espresso. Cornettos, flaky Italian pastries similar to croissants, are also a good choice, as are bombolone, delicious, sugar-dusted doughnuts filled with jam or cream.

If all that sugar is too much for you to handle in the morning, a simple piece of bread is also typical Italian breakfast fare – just as long as it’s slathered in jam or a sweet chocolate hazelnut spread like Venchi Suprema, which is made with rich cacao, Piedmontese hazelnuts and extra virgin olive oil for a true taste of Italy.

Though breakfast in Italy might not have the same jaw-dropping grandeur as the delicious multiple-course dinners we’re famous for, our simple approach is the perfect way to start the morning. Keep your sausages and bacon – we’ll take a cookie for breakfast any day!

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