La Casa del Caffè Tazza d'Oro

On.the.Road

Tazza D'Oro, the 'Golden Cup' cafe in Rome, is a must-visit location that promises a coffee taste worthy of its name. Operating since 1944, it may have a shorter history compared to other famous Italian cafes but has immensely won the hearts of travelers. Italian cafes are of two types: Bar-style cafes where patrons stand to drink their coffee, and table-service cafes. Though recently tables seem to have been added in front of Tazza D'Oro, the majority of its patrons still overwhelmingly prefer the bar style. Customers order at the counter, pay, receive a receipt, and then present it to the barista at the bar to order their drink. The coffee, almost teasingly, arrives after a short wait. For first-timers ordering an espresso, the small cup not even half-filled might be puzzling. However, after adding sugar and drinking it in three sips as suggested by a companion, a transformation of taste from bitter, to savory, to sweet unfolds a new world of coffee. It has become a must-visit spot in Rome and a final stop before leaving the city. Despite the exceedingly busy atmosphere and anything but a friendly ambient, the coffee alone pardons everything else. Tazza D'Oro in Rome truly is the Golden Cup.