The origin of “cappuccino” goes back to the “cappuccio,” a pale brown hood worn by monks in Renaissance Italy. One order of monks took their name from this hood in the 16th century, becoming known as the Capuchin friars.
When the first cappuccino drinks came to be, it was named after these monks and their light brown hoods. The “-ino” ending was added to reference a “little” Capuchin monk. These monks dedicated themselves to helping the poor, the weak, and the needy. A good cappuccino in the morning seems like it serves a similar purpose, doesn’t it?
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