coffee and wine

Contributed by Ruby Collins - When coffee first arrived in Italy in the 17th century, it was an elite, expensive drink. It wasn’t until the 19th century, when technological advances and political changes made it accessible and available to the masses. The espresso we know today entered Italian culture with the aim of encouraging higher productivity in labourers in the 1930’s. It was during this time that the Italian government, led by Mussolini, began to face tariffs and sanctions which caused the prices of everyday products, such as coffee, to rise significantly. Italians had become quickly accustomed to their caffeine-boosting [...]