Studying abroad in Florence has definitely changed my views on coffee. When I was back home, I would normally get a large coffee and take it with me for a while. But that’s not the case here. Timing-wise it is almost like a drive-through back in the States. You get your coffee, and you’re out the door, yet no coffee in your hand.
I’ll stop at a small café on my way to class. I like to change it up to meet new baristas and even customers. You walk in, order a coffee, and they hand it to you almost instantly. There is no caramel mocha BS, you just order a standard variation of espresso, and it gets the job done every time. Depending on what you order, requires different consumption time, but typically, if you are standing at the bar, you take a couple of drinks, thank the person, and you’re out the door. It’s a whole process that takes no more than 2 minutes.
But what’s so cool to me is that everybody does this. It doesn’t matter if you’re a student or if you’re some old guy going to work; everybody’s doing the same thing. Yes, it may be cheaper to make your coffee at home but it is the cultural aspect of the cafe that keeps people coming back. It’s almost like a church, as in it’s your own community. See many of the same faces and even meet some new ones from time to time. You’re not sitting around anywhere; you’re just taking a little break in the day. And for a student, it’s actually kind of good because you don’t always have time to sit around a café.
The other thing is how consistent it is. I have tried many cafés and different varieties of the coffee bean itself, but they all taste damn near the same. The differentiating factors are the local customers and the people who run the shop. It’s all usually about the same price, depending on whether you go to a touristy place or not. It’s not like you have to think about it too much. It makes it very easy to do daily without really even thinking about it.
The other thing is that you’re not really distracted by what you’re doing. It gives me some quality time of getting off my phone and trying to learn and communicate with the baristas through the beautiful Italian language (which I continue to butcher). A nice break away from school or even any other stresses in one’s life, and I honestly think that’s why it is so popular amongst the locals.
The no large coffees are definitely interesting because I love a massive jolt of energy in the morning. However, I think I actually prefer it. It’s simple and gets to the point. It’s one of those things that makes you feel a little more adjusted to life over here. Plus, it might even be helping my health in the long term with these smaller portions.
The coffee situation in Florence is not really a complicated situation. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s part of the routine. But what many don’t see until experiencing it themselves is the community it comes with. You get your caffeine, drink it, and then get on with things, but leave feeling a part of something bigger and a bright spot to everyone’s day.
Instagram: Favorite Place for Italian Bar Breakfast
Tiktok: How to Shop and Make an Italian Dinner in Florence
Written by: Taylor Jacobson
