Pu’er Coffee

 When people talk about coffee culture, Italy inevitably comes up. To me, Italy has always felt like a somewhat special place—and that sense of “specialness” largely comes from its almost obsessive devotion to food traditions, or rather, an uncompromising loyalty to them. I once came across a discussion on Quora about this very topic, and one highly upvoted response perfectly captured the Italian mindset when it comes to protecting tradition and cuisine. In Italy, the highest compliment you can give a dish isn’t “This tastes like something from a fine-dining restaurant,” but rather, “This tastes like my mom made it.” Yes—Italians are deeply committed to what they call “the taste of mamma,” a form of emotional loyalty rooted in culture and memory. So when it comes to adding hot water to espresso to make an Americano, many Italians see it the same way you might react to someone putting durian or pineapple on a pizza: simply unbearable. It’s viewed as a kind of cultural sacrilege. In...

 While ordering a straight espresso isn’t all that common in many coffee shops in China, the scene looks very different abroad—especially in Europe. There, starting the morning with a single espresso is almost second nature. If you pay close attention, you’ll notice that an espresso is almost always served with a small glass of water and a spoon. This pairing has become an unwritten standard in cafés around the world. Today, let’s talk about why such a small cup of coffee comes with a glass of water and a spoon—and what roles they actually play. The Role of the Glass of Water Let’s start with the water, which is relatively easy to understand. No matter what kind of coffee you order, a glass of water is often considered an essential part of good café service. Beyond simply quenching your thirst, its most important function is to cleanse your palate. Espresso is intensely aromatic and concentrated. Taking a sip of water before your first taste helps wash away lingering flavors fro...