Italian officials are campaigning to have espresso included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list to keep the traditional preparation and brewing techniques safe for future generations.
UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list officially recognises more than 500 customs, carnivals, ceremonies and traditions from across the world. In 2017, the art of Neapolitan pizza-making was added to the list. This addition has made it easier for Italians to motivate to have espresso included.
Caffè, as it’s known in Italy, is a considered an integral part of Italian culture and those who began the initiative, the Consortium for the Protection of Traditional Italian Espresso Coffee, said that it’s a fundamental aspect of the country ‘whose originality and peculiarity must be preserved’ according to MP Maria Chiara Gadda of the Italia Viva party, who spoke as the application was presented in the Italian Chamber of Deputies.
‘We know very well how important coffee is to Italians, to Italians living abroad and to people around the world who have learned to appreciate something that is also a ritual and an occasion for meeting,’ Gadda said.
According to Lonely Planet, coffee was introduced to Europe in the 17th Century, with the coffee-machine invented in 1884 and the city of Turin pioneering the espresso. Almost all our words for specific kinds of coffee come from Italian, including cappuccino, macchiato and cortado.
A decision on its inclusion on the list is not expected to be made until next year.
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