Since 1992
Print and digital marketing
By Barbara McAllister
Word of the Day: Cappuccino
“Cappuccino” is the answer to the question “What do monks, monkeys and specialized coffee drinks have in common?”
The word cappuccino is “little hood” in Italian, from the diminutive form of the Italian word for hood, cappuchio. This term also gave its name to the Capuchin friars, an order of monks founded in the 16th century known for wearing plain brown robes with distinctive long pointed hoods. The color of their robes is reminiscent of the color of coffee lightened slightly with milk which led to calling that particular beverage cappuccino. Capuchin monkeys are also named for their color as well as their markings which resemble the Capuchin habit. The monkeys have dark fur on their head that extends down the sides of their face that resembles the cowl or hood of the Capuchin monks.
The first record of “cappuccino” used for the beverage was found shortly after the popularization of the espresso machine in 1901. The drink was popular in Vienna in the late 1700s, where it was served with whipped cream and cinnamon or chocolate shavings, popularly called Viennese style. Because espresso machines were complicated and bulky at the time, they were operated by baristas, literally “barkeepers,” and limited to specialized cafés called bars. Italian coffee culture today continues to revolve around sitting at café bars for hours socializing over espresso, cappuccino, latte, crema de café and other coffee drinks. There are no different sizes. You get what the barista makes.
Modern cappuccino was born after World War II, when espresso machines were improved, simplified and became more widely available. The modern espresso machines allowed easier ways to make quality espresso with the required balance of steamed frothed milk. This set the stage for cappuccino’s popularity in America in the 1980s, although it had been enjoyed in Italy and Europe for many years. Now cappuccino is found not only in Europe and North America, but Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand and throughout the world.
