Cappuccino 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.
Caffè Cappuccino
The most popular coffee drink in Italy is a cappuccino. Of course, espresso is still the base of this coffee but with a creamy and mild taste due to the added equal amounts of milk and foam. Caffè cappuccino is best consumed at home or as you linger at the coffee bar.
Caffè (espresso, caffè normale)
Caffè is the Italian word for coffee, but it is also what they use to order an espresso, the most common type and your first step to becoming less of a “straniero” (foreigner).
Italians like their morning coffee milky. Breakfast time is the traditional time for macchiato, cappuccino, and mokaccino.
Cappuccino. The classic Italian espresso drink, a cappuccino is equal parts espresso, milk foam and steamed milk. They are most commonly enjoyed before or during breakfast, but never after a meal.
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.
Some Italians don't like the idea of sweetening coffee with sugar, so they go for milk instead. In this case we're talking about “caffé macchiato” (pron “kaf'fé mak. 'kia.to”) which is an Espresso with just a bit of milk foam in it. You don't have to ask for milk since macchiato always comes with it.
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.
3. Latte. Latte means milk in Italian. Unless you wanted a nice glass of milk, you'll need another term. In fact, what Americans call a latte is, in Italian, a caffè latte or latte macchiatto - milk with espresso.
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.
In summary, Italian espresso tastes better because it is always made from a fresh roast, which is never more than eight days old. In America, it is hard to find a fresh roasted coffee because there are not enough small-scale, local roasters and there are not enough coffee shops.
Italian coffee may seem stronger than the regular coffee you are used to consuming. This is because Italians generally roast their coffee fairly dark. This produces a darker flavour profile such as roasty and bitter notes.
Among the most popular in Italy there is the original Lavazza Rossa (Arabica from Brazil, Robusta from Africa), Lavazza Crema e Gusto (Arabica from Brazil and Robusta from South East Asia) and Lavazza Qualita' Oro (6 Arabica varieties from central and South America).
In Rome, as with much of Italy, the drink of choice is usually un caffè (an espresso), or if it's before midday, maybe a cappuccino.
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.
Thou shalt only drink cappuccino, caffé latte, latte macchiato or any milky form of coffee in the morning, and never after a meal. Italians cringe at the thought of all that hot milk hitting a full stomach.
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.
Caffè latte translates to coffee and milk. It will usually come in a tall glass filled with espresso and steamed milk. The difference to note is that while a caffè latte has milk added to the espresso, and is therefore coffee-based, a latte macchiato, has espresso added to the milk, making it milk-based.
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.
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.
After a traditional Italian meal or dinner you are likely to be offered a 'digestivo' aka an Italian digestive drink (digestif). Italian digestivo are alcoholic after dinner drinks, usually served in a small glass, straight, as a shot.
Italians eat predominantly sweet things for breakfast. This can be quite a shock if you are used to having toast, eggs, and bacon first thing in the morning. Instead, the traditional breakfast in Italy relies almost exclusively on baked goods like biscuits, cookies, pastries, rusks, and cakes.
' Simply put, the Italian digestif or digestivo is an alcoholic drink served after dinner to help with digestion. This type of Italian liquor is different than some of the more commonly known classic Italian cocktails like the Campari Spritz.