Coffee in Italy, More than a Beverage
- ItaliAndrea
- Jun 2
- 3 min read
Caffè (coffee) in Italy is more than a mere breakfast beverage; it's an integral aspect of Italian culture. It's quite typical to prendere un caffè (have a coffee) as a social activity with friends.
However, be mindful of Italian coffee etiquette—and please do not whip out your laptop prepared to camp out working in the coffee bar for half the morning! Coffee is sacred. The only acceptable distraction is chatting with friends—no phones, no tablets, just caffè!
Ordering various types of coffee
Caffè- By far the most common order is un caffè, which is essentially what we call an espresso. The waiter or barista may clarify by using words, such as, espresso, liscio (plain/smooth) or even normale (normal). All of these are espresso.
Variations include:
caffè lungo (long with more water)
ristretto (restricted with less water)
coretto (corrected with the addition of grappa).
Fear not! You can order these at anytime of day, even after a meal.
Caffè Macchiato- this is an espresso stained with a bit of milk and my personal favorite. Beware that 'un macchiato' can also refer to a latte macchiato which is hot milk stained with just a touch of espresso.
Cappuccino- I don't think anyone reading this blog is unfamiliar with the fan favorite of espresso with frothy milk on top. This one has a rule- ordering cappucino after a meal is frowned upon becasue it inhibits digestion. Okay, so what about the lactose-laced gelato you just ate before the coffee? Not a problem, I guess! 🤷♀️ Don't sweat it too much, because our Italian neighbor orders cappuccino after meals and gets away with it!
Caffè Latte- You must order this one by its full name caffè latte or a latte will get you a glass of hot milk. Just this week, we heard this tale of woe from American honeymooners, In the end, all is fine. Italians have a good sense of humor and are eager to please.
To doppio (double) or not to doppio (double)?
Contrary to the exaggerated, larger-than-life Italian-American stereotype, real Italians lean towards restraint. It would be very uncommon to see an Italian order un doppio (double), because it's just too much. Svein and I break this rule often. A doppio is usually 2 shots of espresso and roughly the same amount of milk as the singolo. YUM! A cultural norm worth breaking.
To sit or to stand?
Generally speaking, there is a small upcharge for table service with a waiter. We typically sit and the price difference is fairly insignificant (maybe €1); however beware, at some fancy coffee places (especially in tourist locations) pricing can hover toward double the price of standing. If you prefer, you are welcome to take your coffee to a standing table so you don't have to stand at the crowded bar (al banco).
How & when to pay
This one is tricky! When standing, you sometimes pay at the cassa (cashier) prior ordering and receiving your coffee, although sometimes you order and have your coffee before going to the cassa to pay. If it's a busy spot, you can assume paying first is the thing to do.
Queue #1- Pay for your order (here it is obvious because of the large sign that says 'CASSA').
Queue #2- Await your turn to hand your receipt to the barista for coffee service.
When sitting at a table, you usually pay after you are finished and this may occur at the cassa (typically) or at the table. There is one place we go that you order, drink your coffee and then pay at the cassa EXCEPT on Saturday mornings when you order and pay the waiter before you receiving your coffee. We are regulars now so we are now exempt from the prepayment ritual even on Saturday so, go figure!
What to eat with coffee
Italians typcially eat only a small sweet treat for breakfast. The most popular choice is a croissant often filled with pastry cream or ricotta. We call them brioche in Northern Italy, but in the South, it's cornetto for the same item.
We hope you enjoy coffee drinking through Italy and meeting locals along the way. Let us know what you encounter!
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