Here is a photo of the coffee-making equipment I have at home.
In times before the Corona Virus lockdown, when a group of us went to gym classes at the Melbourne City Baths we would go for a coffee and a chat after our session. Now that we are socially isolating, the same gym group catches up for a chat on Zoom.
During one of our Zoom sessions I brought out the coffee making equipment pictured above on a tray and I staged a performance of having made a coffee for each of us. There were the expected laughs but one person said that it looked as if I was hording. That was the end of that. I kept on thinking about this and wondering if I did have too many coffee makers.
I do not know if my friend knew just how important is a ritual making coffee at home.
As an Italian – I take making and drinking coffee seriously. I’m glad I have macchinette da Caffè of various sizes: 1 cup 2 – 4 – 6 cups. I do not have a 3 or a 5 cup macchinette but, if I have three people wanting coffee, I use both my one cup and my two. If I’m making coffee for five, I use my one and my four. If I think that someone may like more than one cup of coffee, I ask before I make it, and make coffee in one or more of the large macchinette.
I grind my coffee beans just before I place the ground coffee in the chosen macchinetta because freshly ground coffee is likely achieve the best flavour and aroma. If I am making coffee for one, it has to be in the one cup macchinetta, for two people, it has to be in the two cup, etc. Usually Italians are happy with just the one coffee per time and they only make the right amount because, after all, it needs to be freshly made and never rewarmed. I have had that grinder for about 30 years old.
Any left-over coffee can be saved to make a caffè freddo in summer or a granita di caffè. The left-over coffee can also be kept if there is someone in the household who mixes left over coffee with milk to eat with bread, broken into pieces and dropped in. This is no different to the French doing the same thing. My father used to have this for breakfast. Of course, he did not do this when we lived in Italy – there he would go to the bar on his way to work to have a quick coffee and a chat with the barista at the counter.
No lingering. (Crem Caffè in Piazza Goldoni, Trieste). His Tailoring business was a couple of doors to the right and upstairs and our apartment was just around the corner.
There was no way that my dad could continue this ritual in Australia when we came to Adelaide from Trieste in 1956.
Lucky for us, times have changed and those who wish can do this. You will not see Italians carrying takeaway coffee or sipping it as they walk along and I find it difficult to appreciate those who sit in a coffee place for a long time, chatting and having only one coffee or reading their papers or writing on their laptops. Especially if it is a small business. Some beliefs are difficult for me to dismiss. Maybe it is to do with the coffee place having a relatively quick turnover so as to make a living.
If we (father, mother and I and perhaps friends) wanted a leisurley coffee and luxurious cakes we would go to Caffe degli Specchi in Piazza Unità on the waterfront.
Our Napoletana coffee-maker travelled with us to Australia. At the time it was the top domestic extraction coffee-maker available before the stovetop espresso macchinette became popular. This is not a photo of what we had. This piece of equipment was discarded years ago. We also brought with us a little milk eating saucepan to heat the milk. I have memories of inviting one of our Australian neighbours for coffee. I can remember the man’s face and irrespective of the amount of warm milk we poured into the coffee, it was was much too strong. He was used to Chicory Essence.
We tried.
The Napoletana has a tank for the water, the ground coffee holder and filter, a small hole for steam to escape and the server.
Once it is assembled, the part that holds the water is put on the heat to boil and once it has boiled and the steam begins to come out, the pan is flipped upside down and the boiling water trickles through.
Now back to my macchinette da caffè and do I have too many? I do not think so.
There are the macchinette I use at home (as above) but we also have some that travel with us. We never travel overseas with out taking these. They are very light weight. These are much more modern than all my other caffettiere, the little blue Bialetti used to be my mum’s – I cannot get rid of that! Coming to think of it, that little blue Bialetti must be at least 15 years old. The ones in the photo above were made by Alfonzo Pupplieni e figli (and sons) and I notice that my research indicates that they are classified as “Vintage” and are in high demand. Good things last.
This one (photo below) is heavy. It comes camping with us and gets taken when we go and sleep at friends’ houses or Airbnbs or rental holiday accommodation.
We like our “proper” coffee.
Fortunately, none of our friends drink instant coffee … or at least they do not let us know. Some friends have plunger coffee … this is not the coffee I like to drink. My partner drinks plunger coffee if he has to, but prefers coffee from the macchinetta that travels with us. He even prefers this to the coffee made from electric Coffee Machines – pod or automatic so it gets included in our luggage.
But he doesn’t like strong coffee in the morning, so he uses the distinctively designed Atomica, which makes two large cups. I never drink coffee from the Atomica. It is far too weak for my taste. This vintage coffee maker can also froth milk to make cappuccino or caffè latte. The Atomica was designed by Giordano Robbiati in 1946 in Milan Italy. I do not know the age of my Atomica but just like our car, it goes in for a regular service. This used to belong to a friend and was given to me many, many years ago.
I want to make special mention of this macchinetta. It was a gift from one of my Sicilian aunts. With this heavy macchinetta, I can make coffee for four people or six; this macchinetta must also be getting to be elderly.
I had a taste for coffee when I was pretty young. My mother made me “caffé col’uovo sbatutto” (coffee with beaten egg) for breakfast.
If it wasn’t a “uovo sbattuto” it was “un uovo all’ ostrica”…this was an egg yolk with a squeeze of lemon juice, just like having an oyster.
This with a cup of hot chocolate was breakfast.
Caffè col’uovo sbattuto
Beat an egg yolk with a few teaspoons of sugar until foamy, then pour in a little good strong coffee, and mix it up. The coffee deletes the sweetness. If I had been an adult, more coffee would have been added.
If I am going to have good coffee at home, I do want proper equipment…. and I take pleasure remembering.
As my mother would say “You can never have too many coffee makers”
You don’t take coffee making at home too seriously. I have many macchinette for coffee as well as a copper pot for making Turkish coffee. And don’t get me started on takeaway coffee. I’m afraid I don’t make coffee shops rich. Complimenti on your blog, I enjoy it and often try your recipes although I am marchigiana. Grazie Elfrida Rossi (Perth)
This is a delightful post; and, no, you cannot have “too many” coffee makers for such an important ritual!!!
I had a question about one of the coffee makers you have in your collection. It is the stainless steel coffeemaker by Bialetti with the blue handle and top knob. I have this same coffee maker, and I have tried to research who designed this pot, but I have been unable to find the designer or information about this particular pot. Do you know anything about this little pot or its designer?
Thank you!!!
Coffee is a ritual and should be taken seriously; you cannot have “too many” coffee makers!!!
I had a question about one of the coffee makers you have in your collection. It is the stainless steel coffeemaker by Bialetti with the blue handle and top knob. I have this same coffee maker, and I have tried to research who designed this pot for Bialetti but I have been unable to find the designer or information about this particular pot. Do you know anything about this little pot or its designer?
I loved this post, thank you. I would have felt so extraordinarily fortunate to have you make coffee for me after the gym. I returned to New Zealand, after 15 years in Europe and I still miss my daily coffee at the bar. And the barista, I adored all of them. I have not been able to find a coffee bean as lovely as I had in Genova.
Thank you for your comment. The Neapolitans believe that they make the best coffee, this is said to be mainly for their quality of the water. Perhaps things have changed, but from memory, the Napoletani like their coffee roasted quite dark and therefore more bitter, rather than the smoother tasting coffee that I think we drink in Australia.