A Coffee In Naples, Italy Is An Experience Not To Be Missed
After traveling to Italy and having a coffee experience from Naples that changed my life I was excited to learn about their famous coffee makers that you should try!
A Hidden Gem Of Italian Coffee Makers
I was fascinated with this coffee maker for a number of years before I convinced my wife to buy me one for Christmas. It was a used one off of eBay, and at the time I couldn’t have been more excited. I had assumed a couple of things that turned out to be incorrect. First, that these were no longer manufactured and second, you would need a REALLY strong coffee to enjoy an authentic experience.
Regarding the flip coffee pot (called a caffettiera in Italian), I was happy to learn that they are still manufactured, and there are even different types (aluminum, stainless steel and induction) available. We used to sell these at Coffee In Italia and we encourage you to take a look around and see if you might be able to find one, if you are interested.
Learn More About Naples And Its Coffee Experience
I also had the preconceived notion that anything popular in Naples would be rough around the edges. To be more specific, when you read about travelling to Naples, you run across descriptions that include: high-crime & poverty, chaotic, pick-pockets, etc. While I haven’t yet experienced the city for myself (soon, though), I assumed that the coffee would be strong, even by Italian standards. To my surprise, the Kimbo Coffee we enjoy is smooth and delicious, and is currently my favorite. When you combine that with the Napolitana Caffettiera, I believe you can have a truly authentic experience from your own kitchen.
How To Drink Coffee In Naples, Italy?
One of my favorite aspects of getting a coffee in Naples is the caffè sospeso, which means “suspended coffee“. A caffè sospeso is a cup of coffee paid for in advance by a patron and is an anonymous act of charity. Someone would come into a café and should they desire, pay the price of two coffees but receive and drink only one. The receipt for the extra coffee is put into a large metal container near the door, or left with the barista, and a poor person could grab the receipt, or ask about it and be served a coffee for free.
While it’s true that some coffee shops might use this concept as a way of Virtue Signaling to try to increase business, I don’t get that feeling when I come here.
“When someone is happy in Naples, he pays for two coffees: one for himself, and another for someone else. It’s like offering a coffee to the rest of the world “
The writer Luciano De Crescenzo
This concept is so popular that coming out of the economic downturn in 2008, a new tradition was created with the birth of the Day of Suspended Coffee (la Giornata del caffè sospeso) on December 10th. It was established by the Network of Suspended Coffee (Rete del caffè sospeso) with the aim of making this Neapolitan tradition known and promoting it in all Italian bars.
When you are in Naples and you are looking for an espresso there are an almost limitless number of choices. The Neapolitan love for coffee is on display at my favorite bar in Naples, the Gran Caffè Gambrinus! This historic coffeehouse was established near Piazza del Plebiscito, and it brings you back to an earlier time. The Cafè became renowned all over Europe because of their confections, ice cream and coffee. This led to the approval by the royal family to be the ‘Supplier of the Royal House’, an honor bestowed by the House of Savoy only to the best suppliers of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
Gran Caffè Gambrinus History
You might be asking yourself: “Hey, Gambrinus isn’t an Italian name, what gives?”. The origin of the name Gambrinus certainly is not Neapolitan but his spirit is certainly alive and well in the caffè. It isn’t known for sure how the legend of Gambrinus originated. An early written account identifies Gambrinus as a mythical Germanic king about whom little is known. He is a European cultural legend who is celebrated as an icon of beer, brewing and joviality. He is typically depicted as a fat, bearded royal, holding a tankard or mug, and sometimes with a keg nearby. It doesn’t scream coffee but the legend does sound like a good time.
The Sergio Family
These excerpts were taken from their website and slightly edited:
“The café is run by the brothers Arturo and Antonio Sergio and they have turned Gran Caffè Gambrinus into a must-see when coming to Naples. Founded in 1860 and renovated later in 1890, Gran Caffè Gambrinus flourished until 1938 when it was closed because it was considered an antifascist hangout.”
Overcome your skepticism of Naples, give this a try and let us know what you think! If you aren’t sure how to use one, this fantastic video will show you the way:
More Italian Stove-Top Espresso Makers
If you found this article about a stove-top espresso maker helpful and/or inspiring, please check out some of these other reviews that I think you will also enjoy:
- Coffee From Italy Can Be Enjoyed At Home Overview.
- My Kimbo Coffee Review Celebrates The Best Coffee In Italy.
- Moka Pot Mistakes That Can Wreck A Delicious Italian Coffee.
- A Caffè Motta Review – A Coffee Favorite From Naples.
