In 2020, I painted a series of 3 miniatures celebrating one of my favourite things about visiting Italy: the coffee! Yes, I can find awe and wonder in a good cup of espresso.

After 2 months in Italy last year, I had photographed several memorable cups, and so I thought it was time to add to my “mini cups of goodness” series with some new paintings. Here are 6 of them – all are 2.5″ x 2.5″ in ink and watercolour.

On a chilly November late afternoon, we went for a stroll into Florence’s city centre from our rental apartment on the northern edge of the city. We had learned that many of the big stores had put up their holiday lights and decorations, so Piazza della Repubblica was our destination to see the spectacle at sundown. It wasn’t quite dark when we reached the square and we were a bit cold, so a coffee in one of the heated outdoor cafes seemed the perfect answer. We chose Caffè Paszkowski because we hadn’t ever been there and it had great views on the piazza, the storefronts, and the merry-go-round. It’s quite an elegant cafe with formal but friendly table service. My double espresso was so delicious, especially with its accompanying dark chocolate square. Then the holiday lights came on in the piazza and on all the buildings. Magical! This painting takes me right back there. And how beautiful is that brown marble tabletop – more elegance and such fun to paint!

Since our first coffee excursion to Piazza della Repubblica was so lovely, we did it again a week later but this time we chose Paszkowski’s sister establishment next door, the famous Caffè Gilli. We ordered some sweets on this visit – some traditional ricciarelli almond cookies for me and sachertorte with whipped cream for my husband (both are in the painting). Again, all were so delicious and we sat in blissful trances just as the holiday lights came on. Just as good a second time!

Another Florence cup of goodness! This one was recommended by my friend and Florence tour guide extraordinare, Molly McIlwrath. We both can’t drink milk, so the iconic Florentine hot chocolate has been off the table for us. That is, until she discovered Cortese Cafe 900 in Piazza Santa Maria Novella and it’s all-vegan hot chocolate, maintaining those thick-rich Florentine characteristics. I made a special trip to try it, and it didn’t disappoint. My first hot chocolate in over 10 years was just so special that it deserved a painting!

Back to espresso… Southwest of Siena is a lovely town called Chiusdino that we had targeted to explore as a possible future base for us in Italy. As it turned out, our instincts were good – we loved this old town with its winding maze of narrow streets and historic sites blended with modern photography installations. And on one of lower streets was our late lunch destination, La Grotta di Tiburzi – a family-run wine bar/restaurant built into a rock grotto, serving traditional Tuscan dishes. After a big lunch, I ended it with my usual double espresso, and it came in a whimsical cup with a bold Siena illustration. The coffee was perfect! The photo I took also captured some of the Italian wines paper placemat at each seat that kept us occupied like 5-year-olds until our food arrived! Definitely painting-worthy!

No trip to Siena is complete for me without a stop into Pasticceria Naninni Conca D’Oro just off Piazza del Campo. On the only visit we made into Siena on another cold November day, we made a return visit to the Duomo, to our favourite restaurant Osteria di Castelvecchio, and then to coffee and dessert at Naninni. In addition to the excellent coffee, it’s such a great bakery to explore with its long counter of delicious pastries and the back section dedicated solely to the famous Sienese fruitcake, panforte. We always have to get a small chocolate one!

This sixth cup was the cap-off to a fabulous late lunch in the gorgeous hill town of Casole d’Elsa, another destination to investigate as a possible home base. On the November day we visited, it was cold and very windy, but there was a lot of activity on the main streets filled with shops and restaurants. The town is also known for its art installations, which were in public piazzas and also on side and back streets of the pretty neighbourhoods. And of course, no town investigation was complete without a visit to a local bakery where my husband was given free cookies upon the owner learning he was a teacher! After a few hours of wandering, our lunchtime conversation at the welcoming and cozy Caffè Castolani was filled with animated talk about a possible future here. The delicious espresso at the end of the meal, sealed the deal – we were very much in love with Casole d’Elsa!

All 6 of these hot cups of goodness were memorable, not only in warming us up in the cold, but being part of several lovely days spent in Tuscany before Christmas last year. It was a delight to relive them while painting and writing about these little delicious works!!