Cappuccino after 11 AM? Just say no.
I asked Husband where he’d like to go when we are traveling again. “Italy!” was his Immediate response. “I’m craving a good cup of coffee and theirs is the best.”
I don’t drink coffee. But as Husband has sampled the stuff from pretty much everywhere—Turkey, Colombia, Vietnam, Morocco, Malaysia, Australia, Peru, and Ethiopia, to name a few in addition to Italy—I’m inclined to believe him. Just as there’s an art to dressing Italian, there’s an art to ordering coffee like a local, too. Here’s the cheat sheet (and a not-to-be missed museum if you are a true coffee aficionado).
1. Timing is everything.
While most American coffee drinkers will drink any coffee concoction whenever they please, Italians drink certain beverages at certain times of day. Cappuccinos and caffè lattes 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, while espresso is served after dinner.
2. “To go” is a no go.
Most Italian cafés are table seating or counter service only. (Although with Starbucks having opened its first store in Milan-the city where the company’s CEO allegedly conceived of what would become his empire-this may soon change.)
3. Size doesn’t matter.
Forget Starbucks’s Demi, Short, Tall, Grande, Venti, and Tranta. (Did I miss one?) Coffee drinks usually come in one size, maybe two (in the latter case, regular and large).
4. What’s in a name? Different kinds of coffee drinks.
Caffè
A caffè (or caffè normale), the foundation of all Italian coffee drinks, is a shot of plain (black) espresso. You may hear Americans ordering a doppio, or double; Italians tend to make a return trip to the barista if they’re jonesing for more caffeine.
Cappuccino
Equal parts espresso, milk foam, and steamed milk, a cappuccino is most commonly enjoyed before or during breakfast, but never after a meal.
Caffè Latte
A creamier alternative to a cappuccino, a caffé latte is one part espresso to two parts steamed milk with just a little bit of foam on top. They are traditionally drunk only in the morning.
Caffè Macchiato
Espresso that is “marked” with a splash of frothy milk. Unlike the other milky espresso drinks, the macchiato can be imbibed all day.
Caffè Americano
Espresso diluted with hot water to mimic American-style drip coffee. In other words, yuck. I have yet to hear an Italian order one of these.
Caffè Lungo
In between a caffè and an Americano, this “long coffee” is an espresso with just a splash of hot water.
Caffè Corretto
Usually downed pre-dinner, this “corrected coffee” features espresso with a splash of grappa, sambuca, or your choice of liquor.
5. If you are a true coffee aficionado, this museum is for you.
The Museo Lavazza in Turin, Italy, takes visitors through the story of the Lavazza company and the coffee production process.
Upon entering, each guest gets his or her own espresso cup. Visitors are led through five different sections: Casa Lavazzo, focusing on the company’s archive; the Fabbrica, which digs into the coffee-making process; the Piazza, a deeper dive into the social and ritualistic act of enjoying coffee; La’Atleier, a media archive; and L’Universo, an immersive experience that ends with a special coffee tasting.
The museum brings you through 120 years of history, all centered around the drink that gets so many of us up and moving in the morning. The artifacts are impressive, from the first espresso machine sent into space to historic ad campaigns. So if you’re in northern Italy, check it out!
Twist’s Take: When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Especially when it comes to coffee.
