Good beans make good coffee, it is that simple. But to make great coffee it takes a master to blend and roast the beans properly. Italian coffees use mainly the Arabica variety of coffee bean, known for its full flavor and low caffeine content. However depending upon the region and particular taste, the stronger and caffeine rich Robusta beans are blended with Arabica. The blends of the south tend to have more Robusta content in their blends which makes for a stronger espresso.

According to legend, human cultivation of coffee began after goats in Ethiopia were seen mounting each other after eating the leaves and fruits of the coffee tree. In reality, human consumption of coffee fruits probably began long before humans took up pastoralism. However, in Ethiopia there are still some locales where people drink a tisane made from the leaves of the coffee tree. The first written record of coffee made from roasted coffee beans comes from Arabian scholars who wrote that it was useful in prolonging their working hours. The Arab innovation in Yemen of making a brew from roasted beans, spread first among the Egyptians and Turks and later on found its way around the world. The picture above is of a flowering coffee tree.

The World of Italian Coffee. Today we continue on our journey through the history of coffee. Most of the world's coffee today comes from either South America or Indonesia, hence the nickname Java, but coffee originated in the highlands of Ethiopia and did not reach Europe for thousands of years. It was not until the 16th century that the introduction of coffee to Europe took place. Coffee arrived from the Middle East where it had achieved a near cult like following, with the first coffee houses being established in Istanbul. Once accepted by Islamic law the beverage followed the spread of Islam across Africa and Eastern Europe. It was very nearly banned, like alcohol many times. Venice, which relied heavily upon trade with the Muslim east, was first introduced to coffee in the mid 1570's. However coffee would remain a luxury item at this time and was not enjoyed for refreshment, but as a medical drink. Once coffee was transplanted to European colonies in Asia and South America the bean thrived and became accessible to the public.

The 17th century saw the opening of the first European coffeehouse in Venice, which later spawned over two hundred others along its canals. Coffee spread quickly at this point and other coffeehouses were founded in the major cities of Italy. Some of these dignified and elegant establishments are still in existence in Venice, Turin and Rome; virtual palaces to the national stimulant. To read more please visit Life In Italy.

It would be hard to think of Italy without coffee. After all it is the national breakfast and the home of coffee drinks that have taken the rest of the world by storm. Without Italy, Starbucks would not exist and without coffee, Italy would simply grind to a halt. No, coffee was not invented in Italy but coffee culture as we all know it did originate in Italy. Today, Italy is a country of coffee aficionados who will not tolerate much less visit an establishment that has bad coffee. Many of my friends in fact will skip coffee at a restaurant after dinner just to visit their favorite coffee bar. For the next few posts I am going to discuss a bit of coffee history and share my philosophy on Beans, Roasting, Brewing at Home, and will mention a few of my favorite Espresso Machines! Sharing coffee with a someone is a wonderful experience I enjoy every day - I look forward to sharing that experience with you. Have a wonderful day! - Rita

These flavorful raisin cookies are always on hand at my house for when guests stop by. Although they are great with a cup of coffee for a quick mid-day snack, they are also delicious for breakfast with a cup of cafe latte for dipping.


1 Cup Water
1 Cup Raisins
1 Cup Shortening
3 Eggs
1 Cup Sugar
1 1/2 Teaspoons Cinnamon
3 1/2 Cups Flour
3 Teaspoons Baking Powder

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. and lightly grease two baking sheets. Place the water and raisins in a small pot, and bring to a boil. Add the shortening, and remove from the heat, stirring until the shortening has melted. In a bowl, beat together the eggs and the sugar until light. Add the raisin mixture to the egg mixture, and then add the flour, salt, baking powder and cinnamon. Mix just until combined. Drop by tablespoons onto the prepared cookie sheets, leaving space between each cookie. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cookies are set, and the bottoms lightly browned.

Espresso, caffè normale, cappuccino; sometimes it seems that there are as many types of coffee in Italy as there are pastas. And just like pasta, Italian coffee is an art form with many customs and traditions. Whether it's a caffè corretto thrown back like a shot, a cappuccino and brioche for breakfast, or a granita di caffè con panna to cool off from the hot midday sun, in Italy there is a coffee drink specific for every time and mood.

caffè (espresso)—a small cup of very strong coffee, i.e., espresso
caffè Americano—American-style coffee, but stronger; weaker than espresso and served in a large cup
caffè corretto—coffee "corrected" with a shot of grappa, cognac, or other spirit
caffè doppio—double espresso
caffè freddo—iced coffee
caffè Hag—decaffeinated coffee
caffè latte—hot milk mixed with coffee and served in a glass for breakfast
caffè macchiato—espresso "stained" with a drop of steamed milk: small version of a cappuccino
caffè marocchino—espresso with a dash of hot milk and cacao powder
caffè stretto—espresso with less water; rocket fuel!
cappuccino—espresso infused with steamed milk and drunk in the morning, but never after lunch or dinner
granita di caffè con panna—frozen, iced beverage (similar to a slush, but ice shavings make it authentic) and topped with whipped cream

At Rita Monti - we want our customers, friends and followers to understand WHY we are so passionate about our coffee. We believe we roast the BEST coffee in the world. At our Salerno roasting facility we produce our coffee using age old and time tested tradition so that you can have a rich fresh and superior coffee experience in the comfort of your own home. We also understand that in these challenging economic times we need to conserve our financial resources so we have worked to educate consumers on how you can simply "have your latte at home for less!"

Did you know? Espresso was invented in 1903 by Luigi Bezzera, the owner of a manufacturing business. Mr. Bezzera longed to find a way to brew coffee much faster. Wasting some time after work one day, he added pressure to the coffee brewing process, reducing brewing time. The machine that he later introduced was termed the "Fast Coffee Machine", which is where the word "espresso" comes from...espresso means "fast" in Italian!

We hope you enjoy our blog posting and please feel free to comment, call us, or shoot us an e-mail, we love to answer questions. We can be found across the internet at Twitter and Facebook, we look forward to keeping in touch!

My Best to you,

Rita Monti

Hi everyone! Thanks for all the comments from blogcatalog - I never knew building my brand could be this rewarding. I am really enjoying connecting with new friends and most certainly appreciate the support, it has made a very big difference. Also thanks for the positive reviews of the new blog style, it has a much more "me" appeal now!

I will be working on posting conversations of interest, links to common interests and helping to educate others about the true origins of "real" espresso! Our dinnerware line is getting rave reviews and we are in talks with new distributors so that is very exciting! My main goal is to share my love of my rich Italian heritage and tradition with others. Please let me know if you have any questions and I look forward to sharing with you everyday!

My best,

Rita Monti

Just some fun facts to think about!

In Italy, coffee and espresso are synonymous.
The average age of an Italian barista is 48 years old.
A barista is a respected job title in Italy.
Italians do not drink espresso during meals. It is considered to be a separate event and is given its own time.

According to a coffee history legend, an Arabian shepherd named Kaldi found his goats dancing joyously around a dark green leafed shrub with bright red cherries in the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Kaldi soon determined that it was the bright red cherries on the shrub that were causing the peculiar euphoria and after trying the cherries himself, he learned of their powerful effect. The stimulating effect was then exploited by monks at a local monastery to stay awake during extended hours of prayer and distributed to other monasteries around the world. Coffee was born. And now you know. Want a great coffee offer? Become a member at RitaMonti and we will enter you in our promotion to receive a FREE espresso machine and Rita Monti coffee for a full year!

As coffee-lovers everywhere know, drinking coffee is an aesthetic, sensory experience with its own set of rituals that can be shared with others or savored alone. Rita Monti provides the ultimate coffee experience by producing the world’s finest espresso with superior aroma and flavor. Transformed from plant to cup, the taste experience that develops within this bitter black brew will remind you of its origins at the heart of a bean.

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