Iced Coffee from Caffe Freddo
It’s no secret that European vacations were the trip of the summer this year. Tips and tricks for the ideal Italian summer took over TikTok for-you pages and Instagram Reel feeds. My social media messages were filled with friends sharing clips on their feed for my upcoming adventure. One of the top categories was coffee and coffee-like drinks. As we’ve learned in our short amount of time, coffee plays an even bigger role in Italian culture than it does in American culture, although the standards are different. Here in Italy, coffee is meant to be served hot, no matter the time of day, weather or activity. Italian coffee isn’t watered down like your local U.S. Starbucks. This is not to say iced coffee is nonexistent, however, those who dare to order a cold coffee beverage will be subjected to strange faces and questioning eyes.
"A refreshing coffee treat." - Mya Tsu
There is one exception to this rule, the caffe freddo. Mentioned in countless TikToks as the American refuge for iced coffee, I was determined to find this elusive refreshing treat during my time in Italy. Tucked inside the doors of Panini & Co., I found this must-have drink. Caffe Freddo can be a lot of things, literally meaning ”iced coffee,” and each place serving caffe freddo has its own special twist. At Panini & Co., the caffe freddo was more ice cream than iced coffee. The first bite was creamy and smooth as it entered my mouth. In the hot, simmering sun, the bite was refreshing. Not too sweet, rather, a tasteful and cool end to my meal. Even with the frosty texture, the strong flavor of espresso beans was prevalent throughout each bite.
Caffe freddo lived up to the social media hype, providing a perfect end to a delicious meal and an energizing boost to my day.
Storyteller: Mya Tsu
Editor: Haden Mock
Photographer: Mya Tsu
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