According to etiquette, you have to lift the cup using only thumb and index finger without ever raising the little finger. The coffee should be drunk in small sips without blowing on it if it's too hot; just wait a few minutes before drinking it.
Italian coffee drinking rules clearly state that you should ALWAYS be served water with your coffee, either sparkling or still (there are no specific rules about it).
Italians drink lots of coffee – they drink it small and they drink it fast. It's a pick-me-up and a quick caffeine kick. 'Caffé' is what we'd call an espresso. It's served, not too hot, in a petite espresso cup and saucer, thick, dark and without milk and comes with a complimentary glass of water.
The cappuccino is arguably the most popular type of coffee drink in Italy that includes milk, made with equal parts Italian espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam. Since cappuccinos have quite a bit of milk, Italians only drink this particular type of coffee in the morning.
Do not leave your spoon in the cup nor put it across the saucer or cup. Never lick the spoon, nor use it to try the infusion or cool it down. Usually a coffee is served with something sweet. According to coffee gourmands, it should not be a sponge cake, for instance.
But how do we make the most of this? The following is my super simple 80:20 method for getting the best out of a coffee with minimal effort. The 80:20 rule or “Pareto Principle” states that, for many events, roughly 80% of the results come from 20% of the causes.
The Rule goes like this: Green coffee lasts about 15 months before it goes stale. Roasted coffee lasts about 15 days before it goes stale. Ground coffee lasts about 15 minutes before it goes stale.
Why do Italians drink coffee after dinner? “The espresso after dinner is ordered only if the meal was heavy, and they also 'correct' the espresso by adding grappa, known as 'the corretto,'” Milos says. The habit might also have to do with the fact that Italians stay up later.
This tradition has its origins in the ancient Italian coffee roasters, in which water was served to customers before they tasted the coffee. The roasters, in fact, wanted customers to appreciate all the aromatic nuances of coffee without having the taste of other foods previously eaten.
Italians like their morning coffee milky. Breakfast time is the traditional time for macchiato, cappuccino, and mokaccino.
Sugar is traditionally added to espresso by Italians, who invented the drink. Not all of them take it this way, but most of them do. Why? Because that's how you make it taste good.
And, you'll never see an Italian ordering cappuccino after dinner. Italians do not use creamer in their coffee. If you ask, you'll get milk at best. However, some places will have self-serve tubs of “cremina”, which is a foam whipped with sugar that you can spoon into your cup.
For instance, cappuccinos are generally reserved for breakfast—not to be ordered after 11:00 a.m. A macchiato is traditionally enjoyed as a bit of an afternoon pick-me-up and espresso is served after dinner. Also, try to stay away from ordering a coffee to-go.
First: Don't Order An Espresso
After all, isn't espresso the popular coffee drink in Italy? It is indeed. Espresso is the coffee of the land so all you have to say is, "Un caffè per favore" and you will be presented with an espresso.
While it may seem strange to some, the custom of not ordering a cappuccino after 11am in Italy is rooted in tradition and the belief that the drink is best suited for the morning.
In Italy, asking for a latte is asking for a simple cup of cold milk. Remember to put “caffè” before it when ordering.
Italians have a thing about drinking cappuccino after noon. It's just not done (some say it's because the milk and foam makes it a replacement for a meal, and all that dairy upsets the digestion). And you'll never see an Italian ordering a cappuccino after dinner.
Yes, you do have to pay for water. (You can ask for “acqua dal rubinetto,” tap water, but it's often seen as a bit rude. Plus, those glasses of tap water will take ages to get refilled by your waiter, if they're refilled at all!).
A typical Italian breakfast is a cappuccino, espresso with croissant, bread with butter, jam, or Nutella. Additionally, if you're making your breakfast in Italy at home, you will most likely find cereals or Mulino Bianco biscuits.
Back in the 16th century, as the global coffee trade was exploding, coffee beans were first introduced to Europe through trading ports in Venice. Coffee shops started to open in the cities, becoming meeting places for the local intelligentsia, then becoming more of a social space for wider society.
Traditionally, cappuccini are taken in the morning. Some cynics suggest that it's a massive faux pas to order a cappuccino after 10am but, while it's unlikely that your Italian amici will be sticking milk in their coffee after dinner, late-night cappuccino-drinking is not – as yet – an illegal activity.
Freshly Roasted. Freshly Ground and Freshly Brewed. These are the 3 'F's. Follow these simple rules and you're never going to unfollow them.
Research shows that 1 cup of coffee can significantly improve your problem-solving abilities. Ideas matter, but execution matters more. That's why almost every successful person -- in whatever way they choose to define "success" -- are great problem-solvers.
Still, this study generally supports sticking with the 2 to 3 p.m. caffeine cutoff window experts suggest — especially if you're someone who starts winding down for bed around 9 p.m. Ultimately, though, there's probably no one-size-fits-all rule as to how late is too late when it comes to consuming caffeine.