Share
Coffee is a routine for most of us. Be it macchiato, espresso or French Press, these may be different names but are popular ways to satisfy our caffeine infusion. Among the many coffee varieties loved across the globe, there is cappuccino known for its frothy texture and delicious taste. The creamy hot beverage has been there for a long time now and has become an indominable part of our lives. This espresso-based coffee with a thick layer of milk micro foam has espresso shot, steamed milk and milk foam. But have you ever wondered why this beverage got a name like ‘cappuccino’? Well, you have surely landed to the right place.
Let us tell you that so many terms that we use for coffee drinks come from Italian. While espresso in Italian refers to ‘pressed-out’, macchiato means coffee with a spot of milk. However, cappuccino is in no way connected to the way it is made. Rather, it comes from an Italian word that refers to the friars and not coffee. Yes, you read that right. If some legends are to be believed, cappuccino got its name from Capuchin friars, members of the larger Franciscan orders of monk, found in Italy somewhere around the 16th century. Brown colour of this beverage is similar to the colour of the robe that Capuchin friars wear. Cappuccino gets its lighter brown colour after milk is added to the darker espresso while creating a pleasant shade. When the frothed milk is added to the espresso, it attains a colour similar to the robe that Capuchin monks wear. The simple brown robe consisting of a long, pointed hood hanging down the back is called Cappuccio.
But Who Were The Capuchin Friars?
Known for their missionary work among the poor and those vulnerable, the Cappuccini or Capuchin friars began in the 16th Century as a reform movement among the Franciscans, calling for a return to the hard, simple life of their founder. And only a few people know about the connection of Capuchin missionaries with India. As per some experts, a band of Capuchin missionaries landed in Pondicherry, marking their presence in India. To implant the order in India, novitiate home was established in Mussoorie in 1880, but got shut down due to the lack of vocations. Under the initiative of the Order's General Minister at the time, a second attempt to establish the Order in India was made in 1922. Following the request of relocating the Capuchin novitiate from North to South, a study house was set up in Quilon. The growth of the Order in India was significant in 1933 and in 1956, the Agra Archdiocese was entrusted to the Order and Br. Dominic Athaide was consecrated as the first Indian Capuchin Bishop. With a rapid growth, the order expanded to other regions like Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Punjab and even Northeast India. You didn’t know this, did you?
Well, who knew this popular coffee has some connection with India too. Surely the drink stands out on its own and has been gaining popularity across the globe ever since it came to being.
