I Will Teach You How To Drink Coffee Like A True Italian Coffee Lover!

Since here in Italy we all drink Espresso 5/6 times per day, I thought you may be interested in knowing more about the Italian Coffee Culture :)

Every question or story (if you have ever been to Italy) is welcome :)

1. WHAT YOU CALL A “CAFE” IN YOUR COUNTRY IS ACTUALLY KNOWN AS A “BAR” IN ITALY

2. “CAFFÈ” MEANS “COFFEE” IN ITALIAN

3. IT’S CUSTOMARY FOR ITALIANS TO HAVE COFFEE AT THE COUNTER

4. NO CAPPUCCINO OR OTHER MILKY DRINKS IN THE AFTERNOON

5. A TYPICAL ITALIAN BREAKFAST CONSISTS OF CAPPUCCINO & CORNETTO

6. COFFEE COMES MINUS SUGAR

7. YOU’LL END UP GETTING A GLASS OF MILK IF YOU ORDER A “LATTE”

1. WHAT YOU CALL A “CAFE” IN YOUR COUNTRY IS ACTUALLY KNOWN AS A “BAR” IN ITALY

People have tried to embed the Italian coffee culture in their way of life, but still, there are words that don’t resonate with them.

For example, what you refer to “Café”, we Italians refer to as “Bar”.

What is even more confusing is the term caffè which ideally means coffee. A walk along the streets of Rome will most likely catch you by surprise. You’ll witness numerous bars on almost every front, and for a moment you would think there is a drinking problem in Italy.

But you need to relax; they are just coffee addicts.

2. “CAFFÈ” MEANS “COFFEE” IN ITALIAN

What will even catch you by surprise is what you refer to as espresso, is actually our coffee. The word espresso doesn’t resonate with Italians.We just call it “Caffè.” This is one aspect you’ll need to store at the back of your mind on your next trip to Italy.

We just call it “Caffè.”

This is one aspect you’ll need to store at the back of your mind on your next trip to Italy.

3. IT’S CUSTOMARY FOR ITALIANS TO HAVE COFFEE AT THE COUNTER

We Italians like to drink our coffee fast and at the bar counter, and we love to have a small talk with the Barista when making our coffee. In Italy, it’s like clockwork, Baristas are very friendly and like to chat will all customers.

When ordering coffee in an Italian bar, it’s polite to say

"Buongiorno, un Caffè per favore!” which essentially means “Good Morning, a coffee please”.

Coffee here is an essential, so you won’t find many people wasting quality time having coffee while reading a newspaper, or hitting the bar with friends.

The trend is they will pop in bars 5 to 6 times in a single day just to have a quick one.

So to get an exhilarating experience with the Italian coffee culture, join the standing crowds. You might feel like sitting down, which is a norm in your part of the world, but that will come with a price tag.

The price of coffee actually doubles if you take a seat.

4. THE COFFEE BREAK

In Italy, the law allows for coffee breaks which we refer to as a “Pausa Caffè.” You are used to calling it “Take Away” Coffee.

So next time you are in Italy and need to order takeaway coffee, just know that there is nothing like that.

5. PAYMENT OPTIONS

This is where it gets complicated. Do you pay before drinking your coffee or after? And where?

The answer to this question hinges on where and how you order your coffee. If you decide to sit, you can always order and pay from the comfort of your table. But if you’re standing, it becomes a little bit complicated. Most systems require that you order and remit payment at the cash register. You will then bring your receipt along to the bar, and the Barista will make your coffee. In other establishments, you’ll order your coffee, enjoy it, then inform the cashier what you’ve had and pay.

If you are new in Italy, suffice to pass through the cash register first or just observe the trend there.

6. NO CAPPUCCINO OR OTHER MILKY DRINKS IN THE AFTERNOON

Ordering a cappuccino and other milky drinks in the afternoon would prompt those icy stares.

It’s actually a violation of Italian food rule. (joke obv, or not?)

To Italians, fresh milk which makes up over half of the entire drink interferes with digestion. The limit is even capped at 11 am. Ordering cappuccino after 11 am is a habit considered worth getting those icy stares.

This habit can go the extreme to even instigate public ridicule. So, be Aware!

7. A TYPICAL ITALIAN BREAKFAST CONSISTS OF CAPPUCCINO & CORNETTO

While the French breakfast will include crepes or omelets, croissant, and jam and the English will indulge in a full breakfast which is basically a meal in itself; the Italian breakfast might leave you breathless. There are no foods substances accompanying cappuccino or coffee like meats, eggs, sausages, fruits or juices. All these are frowned upon.

The typical Italian breakfast consist of a hot beverage, for instance, a cappuccino or caffè with a sweet pastry to accompany it like brioche, croissant, toast or cookies.

So you better start training your stomach from the onset.

8. COFFEE COMES MINUS SUGAR

It’s customary in Italy for coffee not to come with sugar. An exception is allowed for summer drinks that come icy like caffè shakerato, which means coffee shaken with sugar and ice. It’s upon you to help yourself with the sugar which normally comes in packets or jars on the counter. Some establishments will offer tubs of cremina, which basically, is foam whipped with sugar.

9. YOU’LL END UP GETTING A GLASS OF MILK IF YOU ORDER A “LATTE”

Try ordering a latte in an Italian bar, and you’ll think the Barista is nuts.

The barista will instead present you with a glass of milk. Ordering a latte is not a common scenario at an Italian bar.

The barista will more likely ask you if you like it heated, cold or steam-formed.

We find it surprising that in America or other European countries, they have taken latte to mean caffe latte. Caffe latte in Italy simply means coffee with milk.

10. SOME OF THE TYPICAL ITALIAN COFFEES YOU ARE BOUND TO MEET IN ITALY

- Caffè normale: This is your regular shot of espresso. It’s typically extracting coffee using the espresso machine. It is achieved by passing high-pressure steam through ground coffee beans. Caffè normale is characteristically thicker and more concentrated than coffee brewed using alternative methods. Its flavor center is the crema on top, which is essentially foam with a creamy consistency.

- Caffè ristretto: This is just a short shot of the espresso coffee, about ¾ of caffè normale. It’s made with a normal quantity of ground coffee, but the extraction utilizes half the amount of water.

- Caffè doppio: This is typically a double shot of espresso. It’s made using a double coffee filter of the expresso machine. The exact quantity is a 60 ml of drink which doubles the amount of caffè normale.

- Caffè macchiato caldo: Macchiato means stained or drop. So, caffè macchiato is basically espresso with a stain or drop of milk normally frothed. This drink is sometimes referred to as espresso macchiato.

- Caffè macchiato freddo: This is a lot similar to caffè macchiato caldo only that instead of frothed milk, you use a drop of cold milk.

- Caffè lungo: Lungo in Italy means long. Hence, caffè lungo is a coffee drink made using a classic Italian espresso machine, and the extraction takes a little longer making it a long coffee drink.

- Cappuccino: It a typical Italian coffee drink made by extracting a double shot of espresso, hot milk and frothed milk. It’s normally garnished with chocolate powder, but that’s optional.

- Latte macchiato: Macchiato means stained. So this drink is the complete opposite of espresso macchiato. The milk is stained by incorporation of espresso.

- Caffè Americano: In a layman’s language, Americano means black coffee. The classic Americano is made by extraction of a shot of espresso from the coffee machine and topping with hot water to fill the cup.

- Caffè corretto: It is an Italian coffee drink made with a shot of espresso with a small measure of liquor, normally grappa. Other people substitute the liquor with sambuca or cognac.

- Caffè decaffeinato: This is your shot of typical decaffeinated coffee.

CONCLUSIONS

With all these facts about how to drink coffee like a typical Italian, you must feel like an Italian already.

Just ensure to put all these tips into perspective the next time you visit Italy to avoid those icy stares or worse being a laughing stock.

Want even more Tips & Tricks?

Read the full article here > www.getcoffeebehappy.com/drink-coffee-like-an-italian

More info: getcoffeebehappy.com