Everything you need to know about ordering (and enjoying) coffee in the country that treats it like an art form.
Iced coffee doesn’t exist in Italy. Nor do lattes, large macchiatos, and surely not a cold brew. Coffee is the essence of Italy, but they tend to be much more specific as to how they drink it.
Here, they usually alter between both cappuccinos and cups of espresso. You can also get an americano, but the locals usually tend to stick with their espresso straight, or with a touch of milk.
In tourist cities, you’ll find that there’s more offerings, such as a “shakerato”. A shakerato is a slushy-like coffee drink, like a frappuccino at home. I tried one of these in Naples one weekend, and became obsessed. They are not overly sweet like a frappe, but more of a cold delicacy on a hot summer day.
In the big cities, you can also find a “caffe latte”, which is the Italian version of the American latte. While it won’t be as milky or sweet as at home, this is a treat to those who miss their usual coffee order. And while you’ll see various “Americanized” coffee menus in these tourist areas, ordering the usual drinks like a cappuccino or an espresso are still the norm.
My personal favorite is a “cappuccino con soia”- a soy milk cappuccino. These are a tiny bit sweet with the usual dusting of cocoa powder which adds a rich and delicious touch. They’re a treat, and even more so first thing in the morning.
It’s also important to know that in Italy, they’re not only particular about how they take their coffee, but also when they drink it. A cappuccino, for example, is commonly only ordered in the morning.
It’s universally understood in Italy that a cappuccino should only be ordered before 11am, and after that time you should ask for an espresso instead. They say they do this since a cappuccino is a heavy drink, consisting of mostly rich, whole milk. The Italians believe this style of coffee to be too filling to drink at any other time of day, so they’ll usually get one with their croissant in the morning and then opt for tiny cups of espresso for the afternoon.
This doesn’t mean that they’ll stop serving cappuccinos, however. A barista will still make you one if you order it any time of the day. Yet, they say that this is how they can immediately spot a tourist from a local. Americans in particular are usually singled out for drinking “heavy” coffees like a cappuccino or a latte at any hour of the day.
Our traditional “lattes” are also not a typical offering in Italy. “Latte” is the word for plain milk in Italy, so if you try ordering this style of coffee at a bar, you’ll probably just confuse your barista. They’d likely look at you odd after you order and then give you a full glass of milk instead of a coffee. This is a little difference that’s definitely good to know in advance.
An espresso, however, can be ordered practically anywhere, anytime. I’ve always found it funny how practically every business in Italy has an espresso machine available. Many times, Italians might order an espresso after their meal, even at 9:00 or 10:00 at night. One time, a professor at my school mentioned how they drink 8 or 9 cups of espresso a day, and I truly don’t think they were exaggerating.
When it comes to drinking your coffee, plan to sip it either at the bar itself or at a table if you prefer to sit. Taking your coffee to go is yet another thing associated with (American) tourists. Italy only recently started to adapt to doing takeaway foods during COVID, so they still offer the option, but it’s definitely more normal to take your coffees and food right at the cafe.
It also just makes the experience of drinking it there! Coffee is part of life in Italy, so it’s always fun to join the morning rush and sip one for yourself right along with the bustling crowd.
