Visiting a bar in Italy and enjoying popular Italian coffee drinks is one of the most pleasurable ways to immerse yourself in Italian culture. Spending time, either inside or at a table outside is a must for any traveler. In Italy, a cafe is usually called a bar (which should not be confused with the American version of a bar) and it’s a regular part of life for Italians.
To make matters a bit more confusing, a caffè isn’t what you call a bar, but you’ll see the word caffè in the names of some bars – like Antico Caffè Greco in Rome. It’s also what you order if you want a shot of espresso – un caffè.
Yeah, I know, clear as a carafe of four-day-old Maxwell House. Don’t worry, just keeping pounding shots – you’ll be so amped-up and focused on getting your next caffeine fix, none of this will matter.
Since it helps to be armed in advance about what to know when visiting a bar in Italy, here are some things to take note of. As a bonus I’ve included some definitions of popular Italian coffee drinks.
Visiting a bar in Italy : a few tips
● When visiting a bar in Italy, locals tend to belly up to the bar for their espresso, down it in one go and run.
● Cappuccino is only ordered in the morning for breakfast, never after 11am. Follow this rule if you want to blend in like a local and not pegged for a tourist. However, it is your vacation and perfectly understandable if you want to load up on all the delicious Italian coffee drinks no matter the time of day – so if you want a cappuccino in the afternoon – order it!
● Generally, standing at the bar is the least expensive option, followed by sitting inside; sitting outside is most expensive – and can often be double the cost. Sitting outside at the cafes in Venice can be expensive, but worth it
● You will not be rushed to leave your seat. You can sip a coffee drink and spend hours relaxing, writing in your journal or filling out postcards without worry. Often you’ll have to ask the waiter for the check (il conto) and this is perfectly normal.
● If ordering at the bar, order and pay the cashier first, then go to the bartender (barista) with your receipt in hand and order your drink
● If you’re a fan of an American latte, the equivalent in Italy is called a caffe latte. Do not order a latte. In Italian latte means milk, so you’ll be served a tall glass of milk if you order one.
● In Italy, you won’t find giant Italian coffee beverages served in quart or gallon size containers. Their coffee drinks are standard sizes and delicious as is – so order and go with the flow and don’t equate size with taste or quality.
● Speaking of containers – Italian coffee drinks are meant to be enjoyed at the cafe. Don’t even think of placing a to-go order for coffee. It doesn’t really exist in Italy. Instead – enjoy your drinks at the bar like locals do. If you’re in a rush – order an espresso at the bar, down it and go.
● When sitting outside, you’ll notice sometimes tables are set up with the chairs facing the street, instead of facing each other. It may seem a bit awkward, but this offers prime people watching real estate, so sit and watch life go by – it’s very entertaining!
Visiting a bar in Italy : popular Italian coffee drinks
- caffé – strong shot of espresso
- doppio – a double shot of espresso
- caffé ristretto – espresso with less water – stronger taste
- caffè lungo or americano- espresso diluted with more water- weaker taste
- caffè latte- shot of espresso with lots of warm milk
- caffè corretto – espresso ‘corrected’ with shot of liquor (sambuca or grappa are popular)
- cappuccino- equal parts espresso, steamed milk and milk foam
- caffè macchiato – espresso ‘stained’ with a little milk
- caffè freddo – ice coffee
- shakerato – a hot weather drink of espresso, sugar and ice, shaken until foamy and served in a fancy glass
What if I want to enjoy a coffee drink, but without caffeine?
I love the taste of Italian coffee, and would gladly have several coffee drinks every day – but as I get older, too much caffeine, especially after a certain hour, bothers me. I’m here to tell you, you can have your favorite Italian coffee drink sans caffeine.
In most parts of Italy, you can enjoy any espresso based drink – shot, macchiato or cappuccino with decaf espresso. You can use the word decaffeinato or just shorten it to dek when ordering. So a cappuccino dek, is a decaf cappuccino. Un caffe dek is a shot of decaf espresso. This trick also comes in very handy when you want an affogato for dessert, but don’t want the caffeine after dinner. Order it with caffe dek instead. Game changer!
Regional Italian coffee drinks
The coffee drinks mentioned above are typical of every area of Italy. But like Italian food – some regions have unique coffee drinks. Why not be adventurous and try something different?
– In Puglia try an espressino – a small cappuccino served in a shot glass or demitasse cup. The addition of cocoa powder is what makes it different.
– In Turin try a bicherin – a decadent layered creation of espresso, milk, melted chocolate and whipped cream.
– In Piedmont or Rome try a marocchino – another layered coffee drink made with espresso, melted chocolate (or cocoa powder) and milk foam. It’s similar to espressino, but goes by a different name and can have several variations – the best one substitutes nutella for the chocolate.
– In Bologna at Aroma try the sinful caffe allo zabaglione – espresso with a scoop of unctuous golden sugary egg custard.
If you’re a coffee lover heading to Italy, check out my foodie adventures! I can customize your itinerary to include all of the best places to enjoy Italian coffee beverages in any area.