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'Coffee and chat' is the king of Italian socialising

The Local Italy
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'Coffee and chat' is the king of Italian socialising
Photo: ColinGordon/Flickr

Italians can seem to do without Facebook and Twitter, but there’s one thing they won't abandon, no matter how severe their economic woes: chatting over coffee and aperitivo in Italy's many bars.

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Italians spend an average €1,200 a year on breakfast out and an early evening drink - 32 percent more than the French and 53 percent more than the Germans, according to a report released on Tuesday by Fipe, the restaurant and bar owners association.

This is because they enjoy the conviviality of Italy’s bar scene, especially in the morning, and see it as one of the last bastions of human interaction that cannot be overshadowed by the internet, La Stampa reported.

As they socialise over breakfast, Italians drink €1.5 billion worth of coffee a year and eat €3.9 billion worth of pastries.

That said, the bar stalwarts, aged between 25 and 44, are a health-conscious bunch and also opt for fresh juices, according to the report.

“Despite the difficult times, this sector is still showing great vitality,” said Lino Stoppani, the president of Fipe.

The average price of a cup of coffee in Italy is €0.94 and €1.26 for a cappuccino. The region of Lombardy has the highest concentration of bars, followed by Veneto, Lazio and Campania. 

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