The coffee really is better here, always short, intense, and full of robust flavor. Most Neapolitans drink it with sugar and take it down in two or three sips. They always serve a glass of mineral water, which I've been instructed to drink before the coffee, that way the nice flavor of the espresso lingers in the mouth.
To me, the coffee epitomizes the conflicting nature of Naples. Here, life is uncertain, chaotic, and often dirty, but this life is laced with elements of high elegance and beauty. And while the ritual of stopping for a highly-refined, full-flavored espresso ensures a brief window of serenity and perhaps a moment of reflection in a busy day, once that little cup hits its saucer, you suck the coffee down , pay the eighty-cents, and you're right back in the chaos of the streets before the caffeine even registers in your brain.
It sure tastes good, though.
80 cents sure would be nice at dub spoon...that espresso looks like motor oil, and i love it.
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