Livorno is a Tuscan seaside port town with a long history of maritime trade. Therefore, it is not surprising that this traditional coffee recipe was born on board of a ship. It is said that a vessel coming from the Americas, loaded with coffee and rum, had to face a strong sea storm. Some barrels of rum broke and wet the bags with the coffee beans. It was feared that that coffee would have to be sold at a low price, instead the aroma of rum was so appreciated that they immediately looked for a recipe to replicate it.
Ingredients
- an espresso coffee
- rum
- a teaspoon of sugar
- lemon peel
- a sprinkle of cinnamon
How to make it
Ponce alla Livornese is prepared in a small glass, called ‘gottino’, with a wide top and a thick bottom. Put a teaspoon of sugar in the gottino, add the lemon peel and pour the rum. Using the steam wand of the espresso machine, heat the rum and let it infuse for a few seconds. Then add one shot of ristretto espresso and stir. If you like you can add a sprinkle of cinnamon.
