Italian coffee espresso made up of espresso ristretto lungo corretto

The Italian habit of ordering coffee.

@ Milk in the morning

Italians have always believed that hot milk can fill the stomach, and this concept has not been broken. So usually Italians only drink cappuccino, Caf é latte, latte macchiato or other milk-based coffee in the morning, and they never drink this coffee in the afternoon.

@ Keep in simple

Italian coffee drinks are easy to make. You don't need to play with coffee. Ordering a mint star Frappuccino there is as simple as mixing single malt whisky and lemonade with a bar. There are only two areas where coffee is complicated: Naples and Milan. Naples has caff è alla nocciola (espresso with hazelnut cream); Milan has marocchino (sprinkle cocoa powder in a small glass, then beat a drop of milk foam, and finally add espresso).

@ Never say "espresso"

If you are in Italy, remember not to use the word "espresso". Because "espresso" is a technical term in Italian language and culture, people can hardly use it in daily life. In Italy, the default amount of a cup of espresso is the amount of a single espresso, and the Italian will use the name "un caff è" instead of "espresso".

@ Double trouble

Although Italians usually drink only single espresso, they still have the option of double espresso, except that Italians call double espresso "un caff è doppio". Although Italians like to drink coffee, the dose is small and stable each time.

@ Say it loud

When ordering in an Italian cafe, you need to be confident and generous, even if the barista is busy with his back to you, you need to tell him out loud about his needs. One more thing: Italian cafes almost always pay after meals.

@ Just the ticket

If you want to buy coffee at an Italian airport or in a caf é in the station, you need to buy it by ticket. If you don't show your ticket, you may meet a barista who won't provide you with coffee.

@ Standing room only

Because Italy is narrow and densely populated, with an inch of land and gold, if many cafes are seated, it will not only occupy an area of land but also cost money. So Italians are used to drinking coffee standing up, unless there is a special reason to drink it. Espresso is so strong and refreshing that you won't feel tired even if you stand for a while.

@ Some like it hot

Italian coffee is relatively cold. If you want to drink hot cappuccino, you should order un caff è bollente instead of cappuccino.

@ The permitted drinks

In Italy, you can buy coffee that is a variation of the Holy Trinity of caff è, cappuccino and caf é latte, such as caff è macchiato (or latte macchiato), caf è corretto, caff è freddo (cappuccino freddo), Caf è lungo or caff è ristretto.

@ That is all

After ordering all the coffee, remember to say "That is all" to the barista.

Some habits may be difficult to understand. Perhaps it is because of the long-term precipitation of history that Italians are unable to change these habits; perhaps they are unwilling to change and are only willing to form their own unique coffee culture. We don't know all this, but in any case, we should respect their habits and their culture. Just as we want others to respect our habits and ideas. When we understand the culture of a country, it is easy to blend in happily when drinking coffee.