5 Coffee Myths Your Nonna Is Still Spreading!

If you grew up around coffee, there’s a good chance you didn’t learn it from a blog, a barista, or a coffee YouTube video, you likely learned it from your Nonna and she probably learnt it from her parents too!

And to be fair, she's definitely been making coffee longer than you've been alive. But like a lot of traditions, some of the things passed down over time aren’t exactly… accurate or best practice.

Coffee has changed a lot over the years. What we know about roasting, extraction and brew methods today is very different to what people believed just 20 or 30 years ago. So let’s clear a few things up.

But whatever you do, don't show your Nonna this article!

DISCLAIMER:

Basic Barista is not responsible for any harm, damages or disownment by one or multiple Nona's.

All myths mentioned in the article have been fact-checked, but we strongly advise ignoring everything you’ve learnt when making coffee in front of a Nonna.

Coffee Myth #1: Dark Roast = Stronger Coffee

While dark roasted coffee may taste stronger in the sense that It’s bold, bitter and has that heavy, roasty flavour that feels more intense. But intensity and strength are not the same thing.

When it comes to caffeine, roast level has less impact than most people think. Caffeine is relatively stable during roasting, meaning a dark roast doesn’t suddenly become 'stronger' in a chemical sense.

In fact, because darker roasts lose more mass during roasting, they’re less dense. So if you’re measuring coffee by scoop rather than by weight, you may actually end up using slightly less coffee and therefore slightly less caffeine.

What you’re really experiencing is flavour intensity, not caffeine strength. So yes, dark roast coffee might taste stronger, but chemically? Not necessarily.

Coffee Myth #2: EXpresso Has More Caffeine

This one sounds right, but it depends on how you look at it.
A single shot of espresso does have a high concentration of caffeine in a small volume. But because it’s served in such a small amount, the total caffeine is usually less than a full cup of filter coffee.

A standard espresso might sit somewhere around 60-80mg of caffeine. A filter coffee? That can easily push well over 100mg, depending on how it’s brewed. So while espresso is stronger per sip, it’s not stronger overall. It's just more concentrated.

Coffee Myth #3: The Moka Pot Mountain

If you’ve ever seen a Nonna make a moka pot on the stove, there’s a good chance you’ve been told:
“The best way to make a Moka Pot is to make a mountain with the grounds.”
Either that or your Nonna tamps the grounds, this isn't an espresso machine DO NOT TAMP YOUR GROUNDS! 
And definitely don't make a mound of coffee grounds, when you put the top of your moka pot on this creates an uneven density in your coffee grounds and in turn you get an uneven extraction which can taste muddy and weak if your coffee starts to channel.

Nonna might love the mountain, but your coffee will taste so much better without it!

Coffee Myth #4: Italians Invented Coffee

This one feels almost sacrilegious to question. There's no doubt that Italy has shaped modern coffee culture in a huge way espresso, cappuccinos, cafe rituals, it’s hard to imagine coffee without Italians.

But coffee itself didn’t start in Italy, the origins of coffee trace back to Ethiopia, where it was first discovered and consumed. From there, it spread through Yemen and the Middle East before eventually making its way into Europe and the rest of the world.
Italy didn’t invent coffee, but it did refine how much of the world drinks it today. And in Nonna's defence, that’s still a pretty impressive legacy.

Coffee Myth #5: Coffee Should Taste Bitter

For a long time, bitterness was just accepted as part of the experience.
You drank it, maybe added sugar, maybe some milk, and moved on.

But modern coffee brewing methods have shown that bitterness isn’t something you have to settle for. In many cases, it’s actually a sign that something’s off, whether that’s grind size, water temperature, or extraction time.

Well-brewed coffee can taste sweet, balanced, and depending on the coffee used it can even taste fruity, earthy and nothing like coffee!

Bitterness still has its place, especially in certain styles of coffee. But it shouldn’t be the default.

If Nonna Didn't Smack You Over The Head:

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Ciao!