Cappuccino: An Italian Embrace on Lake Garda
The history of cappuccino: between legends, travels, and sweet treats
Like all beautiful things, cappuccino has a history lost between reality and legend. Its name seems to derive from the Capuchin friars, due to the color of the drink, once coffee is mixed with milk, which resembles the light brown of their habit.
One of the most fascinating versions tells of a certain Marco da Aviano, a Capuchin friar who was sent to Vienna in 1683. It seems that, while in a café, he drank a local coffee that was too bitter and asked for something to sweeten it. The waiter brought him a cup of coffee mixed with hot milk, and seeing the color, he exclaimed: “Kapuziner!”
Over time, that word later became the Italian “cappuccino.” Another theory traces the birth of cappuccino to an 18th-century Viennese drink, made with coffee, cream, and the inevitable spices, later perfected in Italy, especially in Trieste, home of the prestigious Illy coffee, where the company’s headquarters are still located today. And it’s nice to think that, whatever the truth, cappuccino represents precisely this: a bridge between cultures, a meeting of delicacy and intensity, between the warmth of milk and the strength of coffee. “Italians only drink cappuccino in the morning.” How many times have you heard that? And it’s ultimately true: for us, cappuccino is synonymous with breakfast, with days that begin sweetly. It’s that moment when time seems to stand still, between the scent of frothed milk and the brioche slowly crumbling on the saucer (or better yet, soaked!). But who said it has to be just that? Because yes, cappuccino can also be a romantic gesture, a way to slow down together, to share a small pleasure with those we love.
Of course, the drink back then was very different from the one we love today: the coffee was prepared “Turkish style” and the milk was not frothed. But the idea—that of combining the strength of coffee with the sweetness of milk—had already been born, and it worked!The Ritual Italian: cappuccino yes, but only until 11 (maybe)
At La Fenice, especially in winter, we also love to offer afternoon cappuccinos, perfect to accompany a slice of cake made by our master pastry chefs, while outside the lights reflect on the water and couples warm their hands between sips.
The art of cappuccino: between milk, coffee, and heart
At La Fenice, we believe that beauty lies in the details. And cappuccino with Illy coffee is the sweetest proof of this.
Our baristas prepare each cup with the same care with which an artist paints a picture: perfectly brewed coffee, fresh milk frothed to the perfect temperature, and a foam as soft as a cloud. Then, the finishing touch: a drawing. Hearts, leaves, flowers, stars: the magic of latte art transforms cappuccino into a little masterpiece that brings a smile even before the first sip.
And during the holidays, the decorations become even more poetic with a dusting of cocoa or cinnamon, a warm cup held tightly in your hands… and outside, the lake shimmers like a natural nativity scene.