Italy hopes to win Unesco status for its magical espresso

If Italy’s espresso is recognised by Unesco as a national heritage, it may help boost the country’s recovery tourism efforts. — AFP

A shot of dark, velvety coffee is more than just a quick caffeine hit. Italy’s espresso is a prized social and cultural ritual the country considers a national heritage worthy of Unesco status.

Italians knock back some 30 million espressos a day, from Venice to Sicily, in porcelain cups or little glasses, with or without a splash of milk – and see each one as a gesture of friendship.