8 Examples Of Italian Coffee
It is not as straightforward to order coffee in Italy as it is in the United States or the United Kingdom. For starters, the notion of a wait is foreign to Italians. Second, ordering your coffee at the bar and drinking it standing up is always cheaper (and the Italian way). Although Starbucks sounds very Italian (venti really means the number twenty in Italian, not the amount of a coffee), you will only know a few of the names of sorts of Italian coffees. So I drank a lot of coffee to put up this handy little guide for you on how to get coffee in Italy. You may now order coffee confidently in Italy without sounding like a moron.
1. Caffè
While the word caffè technically translates to coffee, it also refers to a shot of espresso. It is served in a small cup and consumed throughout the day. When you order, you specify un caffè rather than espresso. Caffè corretto (pronounced kahf|FEH cohr|REHT|toh) is another option, which is a shot of espresso "corrected" with a shot of liquor. The most usual additions are a shot of grappa, sambuca, or cognac, but feel free to request your favourite spirits. A splash of Irish cream is always welcome.
2. Cappuccino
3. Macchiato
A macchiato is the result of an espresso and a cappuccino having a somewhat foamy offspring. It's an espresso with a splash of hot milk delivered in the same little cup as espresso. Because it isn't as milky and foamy as a cappuccino, Italians consider it fine to drink at any time of day.
4. Marocchino
Thank you to the genius in Alessandria who combined chocolate and espresso to create the marocchino! In a glass cup sprinkled with cocoa powder, there's a shot of espresso, a layer of froth, and a sprinkling of cacao powder. It's a little milkier than a macchiato. Where we reside in Northern Italy, thick hot chocolate is combined with espresso before a coating of froth is placed on top.
5. Caffè Latte
In Italy, ordering merely a latte may result in a large glass of milk being provided. In Italy, what we call a latte is known as a caffè latte. It's made with 13 espresso, 2/3 warm milk, and a touch of foam. Because this sort of Italian coffee is so milky, Italians would only drink it before 11 a.m., just like a cappuccino.
6. Shakerato
On a hot day (essentially all of July and August in Italy), nothing beats a shakerato. The spritz Aperol is the most refreshing Italian beverage on a hot day. However, the shakerato is completely okay to have before 11 am. It's cold espresso with ice shaken to a froth.
7. Caffè al Ginseng
In the UK, my favourite hot beverage is a chai tea latte, which is tough to get in Italy. However, a caffè al ginseng comes close with its nutty flavour and is a great option if you love chai tea lattes as I do. It's espresso with ginseng extract that doesn't require any additional sugar. Ginseng naturally boosts energy and is thought to promote alertness. It also aids digestion, making caffè al ginseng an appropriate after-dinner coffee drink.
8. Caffè d’Orzo
Caffè d'orzo is a barley coffee that is caffeine-free by nature. This is an excellent late-night option or if you are sensitive to caffeine. It's also ideal if you have children who enjoy being around adults. I prefer to have mine with scorza di d'arancia, which is an orange slice. The citrus gives it a wonderful taste.
Test out the 8 different Italian Coffee options we've listed above & let us know in the comments which one you enjoyed the most & why!