I know that drinking american coffee in italy is probably a crime but I'm feeling like a bit of a rebel. I would love to get my hands on some...and please don't ask why I just didn't bring some back with me, I just wasn't thinking.

You can use Italian coffee, just make it real weak.

Yeah, but not quite the same. I would love to just get my hands on a couple of pounds of Dunkin Donut coffee...or something along those lines...or even Maxwell House.

Sometimes living overseas you gotta improvise.

Giovanna, if you can stand it, Nescafé does a freeze-dried instant that pretty much resembles American--as Bill says, adjust the coffee/water ratio and you're close. Just make sure you get the freeze-dried because the regular instant is awful!

quote:

Originally posted by Giovanna:
Yeah, but not quite the same. I would love to just get my hands on a couple of pounds of Dunkin Donut coffee...or something along those lines...or even Maxwell House.

Look, I can bring you some Maxwell House if you want! Coffee is a national beverage in Sweden, we have all kinds. A half kilo of coffee won't take up that much space in my bag!

Oh Annika...you don't know how happy you've just made me. However, before you agree to anything you may want to know that I only drink decaf... If you wouldn't be too embarassed the enter Italia with some of that in your bag I'd really love ya forever!!!

Hm, I've never looked for decaf coffee so to be honest I'm not sure that's available... but it must be, right?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ok, I've found that Gevalia makes decaf, that's a start. I don't think I've seen it in the stores (but again, I haven't looked) but they make that coffee right here, in my city, so it's bound to be found somewhere. Gevalia and Maxwell House are pretty much interchangeable IMO. There are also other Swedish brands, and I *think* Swedish coffee is quite similar to American coffee - at least I know it's completely different from Italian coffee!

Ok, do you have a coffee machine (one of those drip-filter things, whatever they're called) or you do want instant coffee?

Gevalia is made where you live??? I love their coffee, you are a lucky girl. Anyway, I use a coffee machine so regular ground decaf would be great. If Gevalia has coffee service like they do in America I could actually get regular delivery. I did that in Florida for years but was told they didn't ship internationally. I wonder if they have a different website for Europe?

Gevalia is an old name for Gävle Okay then, I'll add a package or two of Gevalia to my packing list!

Just out of curiosity doesn't starbucks here in Italy have American coffee and they are starting to show up everywhere...

I prefer "American" style coffee too ie. drip filter coffee. I had no problems finding a drip filter machine at Euronics (there must be a lot of closet American coffee drinkers here in Italy!)- I generally just use Italian coffee but in the mildest form I can find. But whenever I go to IKEA I stock up on their Swedish style coffee which seems to be made for drip filter machines. It's yummy. Also my husband's Dutch relatives bring us Douwe Egberts - Dutch coffee is pretty similar to Swedish/American coffee.

I really tried to give espresso a chance but it's just not the same. I do drink the occasional cappuccino though.

JoanSi - did Starbucks really open up here? I haven't seen any in Rome.

Thanks Annika, the name makes sense to me now, and I know there coffee very well...it's yummy!

As for there being any Starbucks in my area, fat chance. I live in Molise...most folks don't even know where that is so I'm sure Starbucks isn't going to be popping up anytime soon. Ikea doesn't exist either.

Ramona, it really does amaze me that you can find a drip coffee maker in most stores (even in Molise) but you can't buy the coffee for them.

I use the Lavazza crema e dolce in my drip coffee maker and it tastes great. I just put 2 scoops in the filter.
As for for Starbucks, there in NONE in Italy according to their webpage and press releases:
http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/pressdesc.asp?id=839

No problem here in Naples finding drip coffee makers - but they don't seem to stock the filters that go with them! I'll look for coffee next time I go to IKEA, though. And I'll look for Gevalia, too. My mom used to give me her packages since she signed up for one of the deals with them but only wanted a certain one. I've resorted to using the last container of vanilla instant coffee I brought over and it's about empty...

quote:

I use the Lavazza crema e dolce in my drip coffee maker and it tastes great. I just put 2 scoops in the filter.

Same here. Tastes great and you can find it anywhere. (According to my wife anyway. I'm on doctor's orders not to drink caffeine.)

JoanSi - did Starbucks really open up here? I haven't seen any in Rome.[/QUOTE]

oops....I guess not I was thinking all the other European countries I have visited...but though i saw something here on the forum....sorry for that senior moment I had:-)

Giovanna, I got some coffee for you today!

Annika, you're the greatest!!!

Thank you sooooo much...you have seriously just made my day.

I will have to try some of the more mild decaf espresso to hold me over until July...thanks for the advice everyone.