The fancy fisherman’s drink

Fishermen in Fano, Italy drank a high octane mix of espresso and alcohol to prepare themselves for their rough days at sea.

Moretta Fanese origin story

Fano is city on the Adriatic Sea in the Marche region of Italy. Today, it is known for its beaches and resorts, but back in the day, Fano was a fishing village.

The legend goes that in order to fortify themselves before heading out to sea, fishermen would drink a concoction of espresso and alcohol, known as Moretta Fanese, or, simply, Moretta.

The drink has been codified and is now a Prodotto agroalimentare tradizionale (PAT).

To make a Moretta, a combination of liqueurs, usually anise, rum, and brandy is steamed. It is then poured into a glass with a little sugar where the hot liquid dissolves it. The espresso is carefully poured on top so that the liqueur, coffee, and foam create three distinct layers. Finally, some lemon zest is dropped in.

To drink a Moretta, stir until the layers are mixed.

As you might expect, the flavor is strong. The anise especially comes through. But, the Moretta Fanese is quite delicious, just don’t drive after enjoying one!

Where to get Moretta Fanese

Caffe del Porto claims to have invented the Moretta. But c’mon, fishermen were making Moretta decades before anyone at Caffe del Porto had the idea. Regardless, the atmosphere at Caffe del Porto, right on the waterfront, is amazing and they really know how to make a Moretta.

On the outskirts of town, Caffe del Pasticciere also makes a nice Moretta.

Getting to Fano

There’s a small airport in Marche with service to a few European cities. From there, you can get to Fano in 30 minutes by car or in as little as 40 minutes by train, depending on which one you take (transfer in Ancona).

Bologna is about 90 minutes by car to Fano. The train takes 2 hours.

From Rome, it’s 3.5 hours by car or 5 hours by train with a transfer in Ancona.

About the Author

Brent Petersen is the Editor-in-Chief of Destination Eat Drink. He currently resides in Setubal, Portugal. Brent has written the novel “Truffle Hunt” (Eckhartz Press) and the short story collection “That Bird.” He’s also written dozens of foodie travel guides on Destination Eat Drink, including several in Italy. Brent’s podcast, also called Destination Eat Drink, is available on all major podcasting platforms.