«This refined drink spreading a delightful excitement throughout the whole body was called intellectual drink, friend of intellectuals, scientists and poets, because by shaking your nerves it clears your head, makes your imagination livelier and way of thinking quicker». This is how Pellegrino Artusi describes and celebrates coffee in his essential book, “La scienza in cucina e l’arte di mangiare bene” (Science in the kitchen and the art of eating healthy).
A common thread connects coffee to the world of art, literature in particular. One time, when there were no publishers, the selection was entrusted to the so-called literary society, a voluntary association of writers, who exchanged mutual advice and support on the curious basis of non-written and unmentioned agreements. And they did it while meeting in exclusive places, bookshops, but above all cafés. It’s easy to imagine that some of the most beautiful literature pages ever were written on bistro tables in Paris or beneath pergolas of Roman coffee bars, where next to hot cups ink gave life to male and female heroes on white paper, destined to immortality of those books. And to continue this tradition of “connivance” between coffee and literature, since the year 2000 Moak has been promoting Caffè Letterario Moak, a national narration contest promoting both young talented artists and expert writers.
Visit the Caffè Letterario Moak's official site.
