If you've ever ordered a shot of espresso from an Italian-style café and were surprised to be served a small glass of sparkling water alongside it, there's actually a few good reasons as to why. First, the sparkling water is a palate cleanser that can prepare your taste buds to detect all the nuanced espresso flavors... Second, espresso can be dehydrating, so having something like a glass of ice cold sparkling or still mineral water with it can help counteract that effect... The true history of the custom is difficult to pinpoint precisely, but sparkling espresso or coffee drinks are...