Coffee Appreciation

Even though coffee machines do make good coffee (I've got one, takes the recommended 15 - 20 secs pour time) any Italian family will use a stove pot to make their coffee. Then it's down to the quality of the coffee. As always, how you like your coffee to taste is down to personal preference.

What is with the ongoing assumption that 'italian' = stylish, gourmet, etc?

It gets on my nerves no end- although not as much as the article I read (or perhaps it was a review of an espresso machine or something) that suggested espresso tasted better if you drank it standing up while wearing a 'gray business suit'.

Not a dig at you personally, btw.