Proper Italian Coffee Compared to Australian Coffee 

You see all those guys with their fancy piston self-leveling tampers calibrated to precisely 30 pounds of force, then you have this italian barista tamping mid-air like it's nobody's business.

Italian coffee culture with their bars, dress and ambience absolutely nails it.

No latte art was produced that day, just beautiful coffee ☕️

Those "croissants" are not croissants, they're called cornetti. See Italia Squisita for the difference.

Kudos for not simply bashing them for their fast and loose way of making coffee. A thoughtful and considerate observation at Italian coffee culture. Really enjoyed that 😊

I love the Italian espresso bars, it's like a time warp to years gone by. Thank goodness that specialty coffee has made progress in the field of extraction.

Fantastic! I really love this video, and thank you so much for producing and sharing it. Man....watching those guys work was a treat in itself! My mind's made up; wife and I are going to Milan on our next vacation! Thanks again!

Luke, I remember Australian Espresso experiences much like this during my youth. Was born in Geelong, then lived in Sunbury when it was still rural. At least once a month, my Dad would take my Mum and us on a family shopping trip to "the city", taking a steam train (yep, steam) to Flinder's. After our shopping and maybe a cinema, Dad would usually take us on an explore to some cafe or "milk bar" to experience an espresso/cafe latte or even to visit some new Greek cafe before returning to our Sunbury home. This was so typically 1950's and 1960's Melbourne, and the cafe flavors of the time became very much ingrained in me, as is usual for children, as exotic tastes to be savored...yes, real Italian coffee/espresso and of course even the occasional Chinese Gooseberry from a market.. Of course, the cafe coffee experience in Oz has evolved and changed over the subsequent decades....yes, different.....but maybe not as exotic as remembered from my childhood. Then several years ago, prepandemic actually, my wife and I were in Rome, jumped into a small local, non-tourist Roman cafe on our way to the Vatican Museum. The cafe experience and the espresso was like a priceless, so enjoyable, so memorable, much like a trip back in time to the tastes of decades ago Melbourne. So your tastings in Milan, and the pastries enjoyed, definitely evoked pleasant taste memories for me of the Italian Cafes and Greek cafes of long ago Melbourne. I still prefer the darker roasted beans typically used then, decades ago, and which I grind now for my own espressos, occasionally alternated with lighter roasts in pour-overs and espressos. Dark roasts are still my first love. Thank you so much for your brilliant video. Bravo, cheers. Grazie Mille.

The energy is just incredible.

I was in Milan in the late 80’s…. Loved the espresso culture there. Looks to be the same even now. But it did inspire me. I craft my coffees at home as the Australians do, but occasionally I will use a very dark roast and reminisce!!

I love the vibe of the Espresso Bar

I hope people see this short video and appreciate how much care, hard work & professionalism we put into the coffee here in Melbourne. Great video gents

Great seeing different cultures and coffees, love their dress code! Love Aussie coffee making. But I’m mesmerized by how quick he churns them.

Un meravigliosa barista cose veloce (fast) e ogni caffe perfetta ☕️👏buon natale tutti 🎅🌲

Much respect for the way they do things over there!

Much has stayed the same with Italian espresso tradition especially the passion. I hope to one day visit this beautiful country.

The barista is working insanely fast puck prepping on the air! Lol Nice video and thank you for bringing us to Italy!

I prefer the coffee in Italy.

Thank you so much for sharing! It's nice to see different coffee cultures;)

There's something wonderful about experiencing coffee in various parts of the world outside of our specialty point-of-view. While I don't pull espresso in that style at home or use the same roast level beans, I loved every espresso I had in my travels to Italy. Coffee in Japan from one of the many small roasting shops in every neighborhood is the same-very different from the global specialty coffee movement. Experiencing these things is just part of opening our minds to learning about other points-of-views. Thanks for filming this and sharing! (…and wow do those baristas at Cafe Cucchi hustle!)

I visited this cafe in late September, I was impressed to say the least . Very good and fast workflow

Excellent video, one of the best I have seen. I was transported to Milan for a while. Greetings from Argentina-

invu! bucketlist for most of us. this video moved us to a dream coffee experience closer. thanks for sharing!

I love the ties and waistcoats. It made my mouth water

A great cultural chain linking Australia and Italy. Really, the two countries in the world that worship coffee.

It's really fun to see! I'm from holland, live in italy for 2 years now! Started drinking coffee only 3 months ago and started working in a bar 1 week ago where i have to to the "caffè " 😅 That's why i came across your RU-vid channel! Helped me a lot but also noticed the big difference between what you are doing and what Italians like..... I'm so enthusiastic about latte art! 😍 every day I hope for a lot of cappuccino clients! 😁 it's ashame I can't add a picture here of my result so far! Far from perfect but so fun to do!

Nothing I love more than the knock box drawers. So ergonomic and aesthetic. (Yes, I've been tired of walking into the knock box forever)

Thats a great idea for Australian cafes... thank you...

only you are the man no jacket on! strong man!

Good work mate, looking forward to what you fellas have learn’t & implement or not whilst over there, really interested to hear more.

That was a really fun video. Thanks for sharing.

Loved Australian coffee culture when I visited last year; as soon as I got back to Canada I ditched the Keurig and bought an espresso machine. I'm off to Italy in a few weeks so this video was very informative, thanks for that.

quite informative. Great content my friend!

One thing many people from outside italy Italy do not Understand is that 99% of bars in Italy are not places to "enjoy" coffee, but a place where people get their dose of caffeine and leave... people going there don't care about taste so much, they just want it to be adherent to their request when it comes to ingredients and size, but not so much about quality. For that you need to hand pick the bar you go.

Great, I was there years ago, fabulous coffee. 👍

Mum and my auntie had similar bistro in bilbao spain back in the 60s..very busy place ..same style..nostalgic

Merry Christmas 🎄

Very interesting! Tamping seems to be just levelling off the top and not much pressure. Their desserts look delicious.

Love seeing the guys doing their job. It’s what I have always loved about going to France and Spain from the UK. Working at the front of a cafe or restaurant is definitely seen as a career, something to be proud of. This differs in the UK where front of restaurant is seen purely as a cost, and so the cheapest option is frequently taken. I have been served by many bored and disinterested teenagers or children mostly in cafes, and by bored students in restaurants. It’s such a shame the UK doesn’t follow the European model, but thankfully it is getting better.

I've enjoyed espresso all over the world and, there are nuances in every region. Most can be appreciated though there is an occasional disappointment. That being said, I'm still drawn to and most enjoy, the Italian cafes and espresso the most. This was a super video.

I died looking at him not wiping his steam arm

When I started out as a Barista in 2002, that’s how we made the espresso as well. Two turns of the grinder to get the ground coffee out, use finger technique to flatten it out, knock it against the corner of the bar, tamp it down hard and into the machine. Later we started using a knife to even out the dose and then tamp - I tried it again recently and the dose was never more than 3 grams out!

Hi Luke, awesome video to show how things differ in Italy. What would be the requirement to achieve a good coffee while doing similar workflow to Italy’s?

This coffee "Cucchi" is very famous in Milan and near to my work 🔝

Great video! I live in Florence and as a coffee lover, things are changing in this city , noticing new cafes opening and offering different options, for an example, you may have to pay a little more but a lighter roasted expresso may cost 1.20 euro instead of 1 euro. If in Florence visit Ditta Artigianale they have three beautiful locations here and always good coffee and food. ☕☕☕☕☕☕ I hate the fact Starbucks have opened here now.....

Great vid! Thanks.

I looooove the long shots at the beginning and how they let you really immerse yourself into the cafe/atmosphere. Secondly, espresso in Italy is basically fast food. You go in, pay a euro, get a single shot, drink it down while standing, and off you go. Speed is important, which is why the baristas are focused and fast. I'm not sure Italians would really want all their cafes to mimic the specialty coffee experience elsewhere, which is more careful and therefore much slower.

This, @1:16, is what i wish to strive to be at, for my own work place and home haha , just pure focus and relentless passion. Say what you must with gestures, but this is what makes it " italiano "

Haha the eyes while trying the espresso

Had a proper espresso macchiato in Milan..nothing has come close since.

Hea guys as a aussi expat who lives in europe lm a cafe owner and barista ,l do luv going to italy to experience it , its very generic all around , and normally the blend is 70% abrica 30 robusto, strong with a bite , if you hit bologna go to mr caffee its a different experience with a huge range of blends to try , and latte art is very good

Guys, as cafe owner, no one noticed that this guy is doing a job that here in Australia would require at least 2 people? (Probably even 3) Keep it mind mind

Uno de los mejores espresos que he tomado fue en Venecia, !en un supermercado? Definitivamente son buenos estos italianos, tienen la cultura del café en la sangre

The largest difference is speed and cost. Italy has a culture of small breaks, coffee and cappuccino is fast to drink and numbers are most of the times crazy. The quality for speed is out of this world. If coffee culture was slower like in most western cafes, coffee quality could be even higher but that is not how Italians live it. Also quantities in espresso and cappuccino are roughly half of most of the world.

It's really interesting to see different coffee cultures. I live in Canada and most of the cafes are serving light to medium-roast espresso, the same thing happened when I was in the UK, some of the best-rated cafes in London were serving really light roast espresso, and they tasted really good almost like drinking grapefruit juice. It seems Caffee Pasticceria follows a more traditional way which serving more dark roast coffee with more body?

Very clean workstation for the speed of service... But that steam wand 🙈

Lived in Rome for 6 months. Loved everything about coffee vibes there. And yes, it was about 1/1.5 euros for a proper coffee!

I need one now

The atmosphere the dress code of the baristas, the speed..... Pure class!!. No T-shirts, no beards, and no beanies!! Yes the coffee is old school but the Traditional Authentic Italian Espresso is very alive.

i remember the first couple minutes of this scene but forgot where i saw it

The workflow and the speed is amazing even when each step ist not skilled like from a Aussi Barista. Due to the low cost per coffee you have to make high volume to make some money...

I do see coffee as more utilitarian in Italy. You can see that they prioritize for speed and efficiency. It’s not the type of coffee culture where they take it slow to sit, sip, and explore the nuance. In fact, i know that many Italians simply take their espresso as a shot.

Recently got back from Italy and they keep coffee simple and it is affordable (1.2 euro for single shot espresso and less than 2 euro for cafe latte). Granted it is cheaper at the bar (not sit down which will cost more). In Australia, coffee at cafes is way over priced as there is no option but to sit down and even take away it costs the same or more.

Can't help but looking at that milk on the steam wand. But this guy is fast

When it comes to food and coffee Italy is next level. Very much love the Italian culture and sense for beauty ❤❤❤

I guess in most places you'll get a decent tasting coffee but it won't change your life. They're not going to bother with latte art or medium roast specialty coffee. But it won't break the bank for sure, and you'll have the experience across the country.

Yuo had a lot of Italian immigrants in both Vic and NSW and some in Old and I grew up in the 90s in Sydney and I remember the only coffee brands were all Italian coffee brands that were everywhere when there was zero speciality coffee brands. You should have gone to Napoli or the Islands off Napoli like Capri or Ischia and everywhere are lever machines, mainly La san Marco machines. The real heart and soul of Coffee in Italy is in Napoli, they do the best lever machines and this is what my Italian friends form Northern Italy in Verona say and thats ridiculous that a northerner gives the south such a compliment!

If you observe espresso machines position are on corner of cafe not at middle or blocking customer like ordinary cafe. My barista instructor said it was mis conception of cafe owner thought the machine in middle were cool but it not safe if there accident it can harm people.

the best espresso Ive had, in Italy, was at one of the airports in Roma. there was a cafe right next to where you pick up your luggage. I have not been to Milan but if I ever go there, I know where to go to get espresso. :)

Surely they are not watching artisti coffee roasters RU-vid videos😅

The steam wand not being wiped right away is killing me, but impressive work flow

At least he cleaned the drip tray. 😂

How lucky we are in Australia…..

I couldn’t stop staring at the steam wand😳

You so lucky in Australia - coffee shops are just great in Melbourne - Italy also great coffee culture - but France / uk oh nooo

Comparing apples and oranges. I never liked coffee until I traveled in Italy. In my Coffee shop in the US we have better coffee drinks but serve 1/10th of the customers. Currently the are more modern coffee bars in the major cities in Italy that serve similar coffee to the US but once again they serve fewer drinks.

As someone that is interested in third wave coffee and makes espresso and pour over at home in that style, but also loves travelling in Italy, I think it’s important not to diminish Italy’s coffee culture and the hard work of the Staff, even if I don’t love the actual product on a subjective level. I personally don’t like the short, astringent espressos, or lackadaisically made cappuccinos. I do however appreciate the culture, the history of the buildings and businesses that make the products, and most importantly the staff that throughput hundreds of Guests per day, all whilst remaining elegant, professional and passionate. There are also a lot of ethical questions surrounding the culture of €1 espressos in Italy and whether or not that’s sustainable. People like those behind Ditta Artignale are trying to promote the Third Wave and higher quality coffee so that everyone can be paid more fairly. It’s going to be a hard path to tread, but it’s exciting that it’s happening. In the meantime, I’ll continue to enjoy the choreographed chaos of the traditional Grand Café and I’ll also seek out the token one or two Third Wave places in any given city I visit.

My friend has a beautiful specialty roastery just south of Florence, he roasts incredible specially coffee as a reaction to the very quick and cheap dark roast culture. Check out La Sosta Specialty Coffee. Very very good.

Wow, a very different way of making coffee than what I'm used to here in Canada. Especially as a home enthusiast, WDTing and taking time to slowly craft a really good shot & foam milk perfectly. The italian baristas pump out coffees in seconds while I do mine in minutes.

We don't need all the fancy drinks. That garbage was designed to appeal to people who don't like coffee. The Italians keep it simple. I really respect them for that.

The pace is incredible😎 - as is the steam wand🤢

Can I say how I love the formal attire of the baristas over the super slacker style of most cafes outside Europe?

In Italy it’s quick and functional but not quality focused. Third wave is slow and precise with fruitier flavours in the coffee.

I laugh every time an Italian goes comes into our shop in Dublin….their face when their espresso isn’t roasted to a crisp. Italian espresso just isn’t for me but I do admire their pride in the drink. Each to their own

belo vídeo

Luke, it seams (in comparison to other EU countries) that the milk is not whole cow milk because of the light blue cap instead of dark blue. Did you ask?

what a great place, great service, top speed in rush hour! but this steam wand, man, it's hurts me inside. I literally shout at myself inside: wipe the steam wand,wipe the steam wand!😄

Please Italian coffee is one of the best … can’t beat it

My best Italian espresso was at the train station in Modena. The customers were piled deep and they served this rich, dark roast espresso that they could churn quickly so people wouldn't miss their train. I would go out of my way to walk past this bar in the station for my morning and afternoon fix. I'm not a fan of the foam art, it is just a waste of time. Keep it simple and pure.

The fact the steamwand was just left with milk on triggers me. As a coffee machine engineer you dont understand how fucked them steamwands get due to milk getting baked on like that then scratched off to clean them

It’s probably already been said but the name of the bar “Cucchi” is pronounced in a similar fashion to how you would pronounced “Cookie”, but with the “k” sound doubled, ie. “Cook kie”

did you find any medium to light roast beans with less roasted flavor?

Espresso can be very strong...and so you can put sugar inside

Is Italian espresso mainly Robusto when you’re in Italy?

You went to Naples, right?

The Baristas in Italy are a lot faster than the ones here in Australia. When I was there in 2018 it would take the Barista 30 seconds to 1 minute to serve me an espresso coffee. Here in Melbourne I could be waiting up to 10 minutes. The Baristas or "i baristi" there really know how to work as a team. Never ask for a cappuccio at lunch time, because they will think that you are weird or you are a foreigner. Next time go to Caffè Big in San Benedetto del Tronto.

One thing I noticed in Italy. If you asked for a coffee it's automatically an espresso unlike in the West or Asia that they give you a brewed coffee or Americano.

First most importantly everything is clean .. so as a consumer I’m instantly interested in purchasing..including the maker and his clothes .. all actions of the barista is done with confidence..but not overdone to say ..hey I’m trying to be an expert …it’s more like I’m focused and I have a responsibility to my customers..coffee shops on lower tiers should aspire to imulate such professionalism and care in the workplace .. I’m not even having a coffee but still enjoying the experience.. thanks for video .

Had an experience a few years ago in Rome. Had an espresso at a bar off the beaten path. Best coffee I had in Italy hands down and it was only €0.80 and so much better than what I had in one of the bars in the tourist area. I mentioned this to the barista who was also the owner. who also spoke fluent english. He thanked me and went into a rant when I told him I paid €1.50 for the bad coffee. "See? This is why everyone thinks Italians are thieves! That is just not right ..." Their passion is real.

He just showed the portafilter a glance of the tamper 😂.