Ah, Milan and Rome – both cities steeped in and famous for so much art, culture, scenic views, and above all – coffee. But the lesser known fact about their way of life is la dolce vita, how living a life that is full of pleasure and luxury, prevails among its people. Translating directly into ‘the sweet life’, it means adopting a slower pace in life and stopping to savour the senses and sights, which includes indulging in coffee breaks throughout the day.
How can you emulate life from these two historic cities and adopt an approach that centers around quality of life? We’ve concluded the five steps below for days that are made to be savoured.
#1 – Breathing in the aria fresca
Enjoying life’s simple pleasures outdoors bears a new meaning to the relaxed Italian lifestyle. Aria fresca, or ‘fresh air’, sees Italians spending as much time outdoors during the day as possible – especially when the weather is pleasant – to seek delight in activities such as taking a stroll to the nearby farmers’ market or ristorante for lunch and coffee breaks. Romans and Milanese also frequently rent bicycles and cycle around the city to explore quaint corners and landmarks while enjoying the scenery. This helps to keep the mind fresh and senses sharp.
#2 – Indulging in Dolce Far Niente
A concept made famous in the Hollywood blockbuster ‘Eat. Pray. Love’, living the dolce far niente life means enjoying the sweetness of doing nothing. What may seem like a luxury in today’s busy lifestyle, embracing dolce far niente in your day-to-day life and taking in the world at a more leisurely pace means you savour every single moment and appreciate the simpler things in life.
#3 – Appreciating a good cup of espresso
If coffee has a spiritual home, that home is Italy. The Italians invented how the rest of the world drinks coffee today, and the quality remains consistent throughout the country, especially in Rome and Italy. Roasted to perfection, bittersweet in taste, and with the perfect topping of crema, both take immense pride in their vibrant and bustling coffee scene. It is a norm to walk into a café, order an espresso and sip it down while standing at the counter over small chats with friends or the barista – embracing the coffee break known as ‘una pausa’ meaning ‘a pause’.
Italians take their espresso in small sips. Image credit to Pixabay
To enjoy espresso like a true Italian, one must drink it in small sips to fully appreciate the full flavour of the crema and the intense aroma of the coffee beans. Coffee experts recommend for a cup of espresso to be savoured within two minutes to keep the flavours strong and robust.
In a nod to the rich coffee heritage in Italy, Nespresso joins hands with Italian fashion icon Chiara Ferragni to rediscover the magic of coffee by uncovering Italian roasting traditions in cities such as Rome and Milan.
Through the collaboration, Nespresso and Chiara celebrate the artistic heritage, luxurious lifestyle, and timeless elegance of Milan through the notes of the Ispirazione Italiana Milano Intenso. The latest addition to the range is a medium-dark roast coffee that ignites the senses with a classic combination of roasted-cereal and cocoa notes, and coffee drinkers can expect to get hints of bread and dark chocolate with every sip they take. Nespresso recommends the coffee is sipped as a cappuccino, highlighting hints of pepper, berry and funky fruity notes. The coffee uses a split roast technique, with the majority being medium roasted, and the minority composed of the Robusta portion and roasted to a very dark degree.
#4 – Putting more emphasis in personal relationships
La famiglia is everything. Italians have a strong sense of loyalty to one another, and they take their relationships with family and loved ones to heart. Spending time with their families (even extended ones!) and loved ones over meals, coffee and good conversations is an integral part of the local culture.
#5 – Taking an evening passeggiata
Just like their espressos, Italians appreciate their leisurely walks and strolls – especially in the evenings – as a form of art. As the evening sun casts long shadows on the ground, Italians go about their passeggiata often with no destination in mind. They see this as a way to unwind after a long day, occasionally swinging by their favourite shops or stopping to chat with fellow strollers. Romans walk though the lively Piazza Navona, with open street vendors, mimes, and musicians for an entertaining end to the day, and Milanese often visit Piazza del Duomo, with impressive architecture, stained glass, and decorative spires. Fun fact, Piazza del Duomo was also one of Chiara’s inspirations for her collection with Nespresso!
Italians strolling along the street of Rome. Image credit to Pixabay
Live like an Italian with Nespresso Ispirazione Italiana
In essence, the beauty of Italian life lies in its simplicity and appreciation of quality. As we start the new year with fresh hopes and motivations, why not adopt the five Italian traditions and see where they may lead you? Along your journey, stop to appreciate your surroundings with a quality cup of espresso.
Nespresso invites you to explore and savour the Italian culture through its latest Ispirazione Italian Milano Intenso, inspired by the vibrant city of Milan and co-created with Chiara Ferragni. The limited-edition Ispirazione Italiana Milano Intenso retails for RM3.20 per capsule.
Nespresso Ispirazione Italiana Milano Intenso
Coffee lovers can also bring home the Nespresso set of two matte black and gold espresso cups at RM159.
Chiara Ferragni sipping the Milano Intenso in style with the limited-edition collection
The limited-edition collection is available at Nespresso Boutiques at The Gardens Mall, 1 Utama Shopping Centre, Sunway Pyramid, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, 163 Retail Park Mont Kiara, and Gurney Plaza, Penang; as well as via Nespresso mobile app, Nespresso official site (www.nespresso.com) and through our Customer Careline at 1800 80 7001 (operating hours: every day from 08:00 to 22:00, toll-free). Follow @nespresso and @nespresso.my to keep up to date with all the latest Nespresso news.
