Italy Espresso World Heritage
Many conversations in Italy are interrupted with a simple question:
Vuoi un caffè? Would you like a coffee?
The espresso coffee, ingrained in Italian culture and a central part of everyday life, may become an Intangible World Heritage tradition. The Consortium for the Safeguarding of Traditional Italian Espresso Coffee is campaigning to have UNESCO embrace its beloved espresso.
Italy’s espresso is “not just an indispensable drink for a good start of the day, it is a real social ritual,” the group said in a statement.
“We represent the whole supply chain from the companies that roast the coffee to those that manufacture coffee machines,” organizer Andrea Pascale told The Telegraph of London. “We think UNESCO recognition would bring benefits to everyone.”
Before UNESCO can consider granting recognition, the Italian government must sign off on the idea. The proposal was presented to the Italian parliament in early December.
This is not the first Italian culinary favorite to seek Intangible World Heritage status. The Neapolitan pizza-making style was included in 2017.