Caffè corretto

Caffè corretto
Espresso corretto
TypeBeverage
Place of originItaly
Main ingredientsEspresso, liquor

Caffè corretto (Italian: [kafˈfɛ kkorˈrɛtto]) is an Italian caffeinated alcoholic drink, consisting of a shot of espresso with a small amount of liquor,[1] usually grappa, and sometimes sambuca[2] or brandy.[3] It is also known (outside Italy) as an espresso corretto. It is ordered as un caffè corretto alla grappa, ... alla sambuca, ... al cognac, or corretto di Spadino, depending on the desired liquor.

A caffè corretto is often prepared by simply adding a few drops of the desired spirit into an espresso shot; however in some cases the alcohol is served in a shot alongside the coffee, allowing the customer to pour the quantity they desire.

The Italian word corretto corresponds to the English word 'corrected'. The term is now an Italian phraseme.[4]

Caffè corretto can also be found widely in Eritrea, a legacy of the Italian colonization of Eritrea. In Asmarino, locally produced areki and cognac are used.

In Spain, a similar drink is known as carajillo; in Portugal café com cheirinho (coffee with scent); in France café-calva (coffee and Calvados); in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark kaffekask, karsk, or kaffegök; and in Mexico cafe con piquete.

Variants

Rexentìn

The rexentin (or raxentin, as it is known in some places) is a tradition of the Veneto region of Italy. Rexentin means 'to rinse': after drinking the caffè corretto a small quantity of coffee remains in the cup, which is cleaned using the spirit used for the beverage, that will then be drunk.

See also

References

  1. ^ Simonis, Damien; Garwood, Duncan (2004). Italy. Lonely Planet. p. 72. ISBN 978-1-74104-080-7.
  2. ^ Steves, Rick (2006). Rick Steves' Italy 2007. Avalon Travel. p. 40 https://books.google.com/books?id=krCIh7ED1YUC&pg=PA40. ISBN 978-1-56691-816-9.
  3. ^ Riely, Elizabeth (2003). The chef's companion: a culinary dictionary. John Wiley and Sons. p. 49. ISBN 978-0-471-39842-4.
  4. ^ "definition of corretto| English-Italian Definition Dictionary | Reverso". Dictionary.reverso.net. Retrieved 27 February 2012.