Thursday 阅读理解 C

Coffee is an important part of Italian culture and since arriving here over six months ago, I have definitely drunk a lot of it!

Of course, coffee is also very popular in the UK but coffee culture in Italy is a completely different story. In Italy, when you order a coffee in a café or bar, you are presented with a tiny, bitter espresso （ 浓咖啡 ）. This is “normal coffee” for Italians and they don't really like the huge coffees in the UK. In addition, while takeaway coffee is extremely popular among British people, it is not very common at all in Italy, especially in non-touristy areas. Generally, Italians prefer to drink their tiny coffees while standing at the bar and, for many, this short break is an important part of their day.

Typically, breakfast in a bar in Italy involves a coffee and a pastry （ 糕点 ）. I have enjoyed myself choosing the lovely cafés in the Italian town I'm living in. These cafés sell various mouth-watering pastries—either plain or filled with cream, chocolate, or jam—as well as delicious coffee. Cappuccinos （ 卡布奇诺 ） are very popular at breakfast time and, for me, a creamy cappuccino and a pastry is the perfect way to start the day. I think it's nice to head to a bar to have a coffee and a pastry for breakfast before work.

Finally, I have found that coffee in Italy is so much cheaper than coffee in the UK. Normally, an espresso costs around a euro and a cappuccino about €1.50! They are small, of course, but this means that in Italy it is possible to go out for coffee regularly without breaking the bank.