We all would agree on the fact that coffee is a major part of our everyday lives. The idea of not drinking coffee really worries some of us, doesn’t it? When we think of coffee, a lot of us think of Italian coffee because the ones who’ve tasted it know how magical Italian coffee really is. While most of us are used to a completely different coffee culture, there’s no harm in knowing or maybe even trying the Italian coffee culture, is there?
How do Italians drink coffee?
Italians go about their coffee drinking really differently. They are very particular about their coffee habits so make sure if you’re in Italy, you don’t mess with their coffee etiquettes.
Italian Bars serve Coffee!
Italians don’t need to hop to far off locations for a coffee. Every twist and turn of the streets is home to an Italian bar where all locals go to have their shot of morning coffee.
So the Italian bars are where the Italians usually go to have coffee before heading off to work.
Post breakfast is only espresso
Italians are really stern when it comes to their coffee rituals. They believe that having milk on a full stomach really messes up the digestive system. So the only time you see Italians drinking a cappuccino will be in the mornings for breakfast with a quick bite such as a croissant which they call ‘cornetto’ or crostata (Italian tart). About 180 ml of cappuccino is served in a cup and the coffee is warm instead of being scalding hot.
But they don’t stop right there. Even if they don’t have cappuccinos after breakfast, they do enjoy espressos the entire day.
Pay first
Most bars in Italy have a strict rule that you have to pay before you get that cup of coffee. So Italians usually keep 1-2 euros change and pay quickly after ordering their choice of coffee. Once they get the receipt, they simply submit the receipt to the barista to get their coffee.
Italians don’t kill time
We’re so used to just sprawling around with our mug full of coffee and watching the day go by but Italians don’t really do that. Locals just quickly enter the bar, pay for their coffee and quickly gulp down the espresso while standing. A glass of water is served with the coffee to cleanse the palate before drinking coffee and also after finishing the drink. This is their usual drill. The Italians refer to their coffee break in the evenings as ‘una pausa’ which translates as ‘a pause’. It is exactly like a small pause because they don’t waste much time chatting up and spending hours in a café. Some bars actually charge extra if you sit down. So Italians mostly have their ‘shot’ and move on without day dreaming much.
Latte is just for milk
The way Italians have their coffee is so much more different than the rest of us. No, they don’t have pumpkin spiced lattes or caramel frappuccinos. They take their coffee a whole lot differently and same goes for the words they use for ordering. Latte in Italy means ‘warm milk’ and ‘un caffe’ is said out loud to order an espresso. Italians never use the word espresso.
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Espresso with a splash of milk is called café macchiato and latte macchiato is where the steamed milk has a spot of espresso. If they need a caffeine fix that includes more than a shot of espresso then they order ‘café doppio’ which is a double espresso.
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A café lungo is ordered to make your espresso a little diluted with the addition of hot water. Caffe corretto is basically espresso ‘corrected’ with liquor. For a cold brew, Italians indulge in a caffe shakerato which is espresso mixed with ice cubes.
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Italian coffee culture has a lot of unwritten rules which the locals strictly follow. Feel the urge for some coffee? Why not drink it Italian style with Nettare.
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