Celebrity chef Gino D’Acampo has shocked coffee lovers around the globe by revealing that cappuccinos should never be consumed after 11am.
Surprisingly it has less to do with the caffeine high, and more to do with digestion.
The 48-year-old Italian-born TV star, best known for his food-focused shows and cookbooks, recently took to TikTok to explain the unwritten rule of Italian coffee culture – racking up a staggering 2.4 million views in the process.
‘As far as an Italian is concerned… there is a time for cappuccino and espresso,’ he told his followers.
‘An espresso for an Italian is something that you can drink all day long, especially after dinner or after lunch, or after any meal.’
The reason, according to Gino, is surprisingly scientific: ‘Caffeine makes your blood circulation faster,’ he explained.
‘So the faster your blood circulates around the body, the better your digestive system will be, and that’s why Italians eat espresso after meals.’
But when it comes to milk-based coffee, Gino insisted timing is everything, with consumption after 11am a no-go.
Celebrity chef Gino D’Acampo (pictured) has shocked coffee lovers around the globe by revealing that cappuccinos should ‘never’ be consumed after 11am
The 48-year-old Italian-born TV star, best known for his food-focused shows and cookbooks, went viral on TikTok after sharing the unspoken rule of Italian coffee culture
‘The milk in the cappuccino after a meal goes into your stomach, [and] it will do the opposite of the espresso [to] slow down your digestion system.
‘It’s the last thing that people should do.’
However, some comments from fans show they didn’t all agree on Gino’s theory about what coffee to consume and when.
‘Can’t have milk in the coffee after dinner, but a huge Tiramisu? Si! Italians are the best,’ one joked.
‘I don’t follow rules of any country I eat and drink what I want whenever I want,’ another argued. ‘If I want a cappuccino at 5pm so be it.’
‘If that’s the reason, I guess no cheesecake, ice cream, dairy-based puddings, after a meal either?’ one fan asked.
They have a point.
The rule comes from a deeply ingrained Italian belief that milk is a substantial breakfast food.
According to Gino, in Italian culture espresso’s are consumed at ‘any time’ of the day because the caffeine helps speed up digestion. However milk-based coffees straight after a meal can slow it down, so are avoided
While a frothy cappuccino paired with a pastry makes the perfect morning kickstart, consuming milk later in the day is thought to interfere with digestion and leave you feeling heavy or bloated.
That’s why after breakfast, Italians traditionally switch to lighter, milk-free coffees such as espresso or macchiato.
The Naples-born chef, who moved to London in his twenties and went on to become a household name in the UK, is no stranger to sharing his homeland’s culinary secrets.
He’s set to return to screens this month in An Italian In Malta, a new travelogue exploring the Mediterranean island.
Speaking to The Mirror about the upcoming series, D’Acampo said: ‘The idea is to show everyone all over the world a bit about the country – I want to find the perfect restaurant, the perfect recipe, the perfect spot.
‘I will speak to the local people, what they cook and how they cooked 200 years ago.’
In addition to his new series, the TV chef revealed he’s also working on an acting project in Ireland.
But while his new show promises a feast for the senses, it’s his no-nonsense coffee lesson that has truly divided fans online.
