The article recounts a personal experience at the Feast of the Giglio festival in Brooklyn, where the author discovers caffè corretto, or 'corrected coffee,' served with sambuca. This drink reflects Italian espresso culture, which emphasizes speed and enjoyment. It explores the historical introduction of coffee in Italy, its evolution into a daily ritual by the 1930s under Mussolini's regime, and the economic challenges faced by Italians during that period, highlighting coffee's significance in Italian life as both a pleasure and a necessity.
Historically, caffè corretto arose from necessity, encapsulating the Italian approach to espresso—quickly consumed, yet offering enjoyment through adaptations like spiking with sambuca.
Mussolini's regime not only popularized espresso as a daily beverage but also inadvertently fueled a cultural resilience through coffee, highlighting both social norms and economic struggles.
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