If you’re interested in Italian children's songs with a touch of humor and a dash of absurdity, look no further than “Il caffè della Peppina” – a beloved classic from the Italian children’s music festival Zecchino d’Oro.
Released in 1971, this catchy tune quickly won over hearts of all ages with its playful melody and delightfully silly lyrics!
So what’s this song all about?
Well, meet Peppina: A cheerful old lady who makes coffee like no one else on Earth!
But there’s a twist: her coffee isn’t your average espresso! Peppina’s special brew contains strange ingredients that make you wonder how anyone could possibly drink it.
You’ll hear the chorus repeat several times throughout the song:
“Il caffè della Peppina
Non si beve alla mattina
Né col latte, né col thè
Ma perché, perché, perché?”
Meaning:
“Peppina’s coffee
Is not drunk in the morning
Not with milk, not with tea
But why, why, why?”
And the answer is clear: because her coffee is a wild science experiment in a cup!
Here’s a simple and entertaining way to enjoy this song while brushing up on your Italian vocabulary:
While you listen, try to catch the names of some of the ingredients Peppina puts in her coffee. Don’t worry if they sound totally bizarre – that’s exactly the point of the song!
At the end of the post, you’ll find a vocabulary list of Peppina’s mysterious and magical (read: undrinkable!) ingredients.
Trust us… you don’t want to try this recipe in real life!
So… did you enjoy the song?
Did you manage to catch any of the strange ingredients?
Let’s take a look at the secret recipe of Peppina’s coffee and see how many you recognized.
Like we said: don’t try this at home!
Vocabulary
La cioccolata – Chocolate
La marmellata – Jam
La cipolla – Onion
La caramella – Candy
Le ali di farfalle – Butterfly wings
Il rosmarino – Rosemary
Il formaggino – Cream cheese
La zampa di tacchino – Turkey leg
La penna di pulcino – Chick's feather
La farina – Flour
Il pepe – Pepper
Il sale – Salt
L'aglio – Garlic
L'acqua – Water
Il petrolio – Gasoline
L'insalata – Salad
L'aceto – Vinegar
L'olio – Oil
Il tritolo – Dynamite
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