Italian coffee, made properly at home
Italy·No added fat or sugar

Espresso romano

Espresso with a strip of lemon peel

Divisive and almost free. The oils in the peel lift the perceived acidity and cut through a dark roast.

Espresso cup
Espresso
1 shot
Extra
Lemon zest
Cost
Nothing
Servings
1

Ingredients

  • espresso36 ml
  • lemon peel, no pith1 strip

Method

1

Express the peel

Twist it skin-down over the crema so the oil sprays across the surface.

2

Rub the rim

Wipe the cup rim with the peel, then drop it in or leave it out — both are traditional.

3

Drink it immediately

Citrus oils are volatile. Most of what you gained from expressing the peel is gone within a minute of twisting it.

Notes

  • Works best on chocolatey dark roasts. On a bright natural Ethiopian it just fights the coffee.

What you need

  • Espresso machine (pump) or Lever / piston machine or Moka pot