How to Cook: After Dinner Italian Coffee

The most commonly known Italian coffee drink is Café Espresso. Strictly speaking, this form of Italian coffee can not be prepared in the home, for it requires a large urn in which steam under pressure is forced through the powdered coffee. The following recipe is devised for home preparation and come close to the favorite Café Espresso.

For the preparation of the following recipe it is possible to purchase a Macchinetta da Café, a special coffee maker that drips the coffee twice. These machines come in many different sizes and come with full instructions but they are pricey.

To make after dinner coffee the proper coffee is the so called "French Roasted" coffee. However, in Italian stores it is known as Italian Roasted. These are available to purchase in several excellent brands in one pound or half pound cans. The drip method is preferable for making coffee Italian style. It may be made very strong or not depending on your taste. I will give you the medium strong measurements for a regular drip coffee maker.

· 4 Tablespoons of Coffee

· 2 Cups of Boiling Water

· Sugar

This makes four demitasses of coffee. Always serve after dinner coffee very hot and in small cups. As a variation you may add a little twist of lemon peel in your cup if you like the taste. Or if you are going for Roman style you can add run or anisette liqueur.