Italian coffee drinks are an art that is based on tradition and simplicity. The reason that international chains have not opened in this area or been successful is because _____. Many bars that have been in families for generations are considered authentic by locals. If you want to learn about all the different types of Italian coffee, this blog is for you.
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Italian Coffee Guide: What, When, And How To Order
Why did international coffee chains have a difficult time being successful in Italy? Traditional Italian bars are known for their coffee culture and authenticity. These bars are usually family-run and value tradition.
This guide will teach you the customs of Italian coffee culture, what coffee drinks to order, when to drink them, and how to ask for them. By the end of this guide, you will know how to coffee like a local Italian.
Italian Coffee Culture Rules
Yep, there are rules for coffee. These rules separate the honorary locals from the tourists. I personally prefer to stick to the local cultural guidelines.
Think of your first coffee experience as your unofficial induction into Italy! But before you know what and when to order, you need to know how to order:
- A café or coffee shop that we think of at home is called a “bar” in Italy. Most are no-name, family-run establishments with just a “BAR” sign out front.
- Most bars require that you pay first, then go to the counter to order. So, keep your receipt!
- There are two prices in bars: the al tavolo price for coffee at a table and the al banco price for coffee at the counter. Italians spend 5 minutes max in a bar; they enjoy their coffee standing at the counter and then they’re on to conquer the day. Save some euros and have coffee like a local—do the same!
- There are no sizes for coffee here. You get what you get.
- With a coffee comes a complimentary glass of water. If the barista doesn’t give it to you automatically, feel free to ask. Say: “Posso avere un bicchere d’aqua, per favore?” (Can I have a glass of water, please?)
Different Types Of Italian Coffee Drinks
1. Caffè (Espresso, Caffè Normale)
A caffè can be enjoyed at any time of day in order to give yourself a boost of energy!
The word for coffee in Italian is caffè. An espresso is the most common type and your first step to becoming less of a foreigner.
When you are ordering coffee at the cashier, you should say “un caffè” and not “un espresso”. I think a single shot of caffeine can create miracles. If you’re feeling extra wild, you can go for a double espresso.
I recommend having coffee bitter without sugar, even though I’ve seen charming Italians put five packets of sugar in their tiny coffee.
2. Caffè Ristretto (Or Caffè Stretto)
A caffè ristretto is a type of coffee that is similar to a caffè normale, but contains less water, resulting in a more concentrated flavor. This type of coffee is ideal when you only have time for a small amount, as opposed to the three sips usually taken with a caffè. This makes sense because the name ristretto means restricted. Ask for, “Un caffè stretto, per favore.”
3. Caffè Lungo
Lungo means “long” but is not a caffè Americano. It acts as a bridge between a normal coffee and a filtered coffee.
There is more water in a caffè Americano than there is in a caffè. The water that is in the caffè Americano has been run through the espresso grounds, whereas the water in a caffè has been added at the end.
This coffee is more authentic and less diluted than a traditional Starbucks coffee. You can also ask for your drink to be made with zucchero (sugar) or amaro, both of which can be found on the counter at the bar. Get yours: “Un caffè lungo, per favore!”
4. Caffè Shakerato
The best time to drink it is during the warmer months from May to October.
Hello iced coffee lovers! The Shakerato is a drink that is made by shaking it up. The coffee is prepared by mixing espresso with ice in a cocktail mixer, and then pouring it into either a martini-esque glass or a taller glass.
The barista will ask you if you want sugar as they make your drink fresh each time. With zucchero or amaro is perfectly acceptable.
The only thing bad about this drink is that you can only get it during the hotter months. Bars will start making signature cocktails around May and will put those cocktail mixers to other use come October. Ask for, “Un caffè shakerato, per favore!”
5. Caffè Corretto
The optimal time to drink this wine is in the evening, after dinner.
The coffee is so perfect that it is translated as a “correct coffee.” It is an espresso served with a few drops of either grappa, Baileys, Sambuca, or rum. This party in a cup is commonly seen as an after-dinner drink because it aids in digestion. The restaurant is typically busiest from 5 pm onwards. Enjoy “Un caffè corretto, per favore!”
6. Cappuccino
When to drink cappuccino: before 11 am. Cappuccino should never be consumed after 11 am.
The cappuccino is the second most popular Italian coffee drink. The drink consists of 1/3 espresso, 1/3 steamed milk, and 1/3 foam. The name “cappuccino” comes from the ale-brown color of the robes of ancient Capuchin Monks. It’s commonly believed that the cappuccino was invented by Marco d’Aviano, a 17th-century Capuchin Monk.
Cappuccino has some serious rules: it is a breakfast coffee and is never drunk by Italians after 11 am. Italian eating habits are governed by what will affect their digestion, and milk after a meal stops or complicates digestion. So, if you order one after lunch or dinner, you will be marked as a tourist. The speaker is telling the listener to check the time on their watch and then to order a cappuccino.
How to Make a Cappuccino at Home
There are a few things you can do to make barista-quality beverages in your own kitchen if you’re looking to save money or avoid crowds. Make your cappuccinos at home if you enjoy it, or use these tips to make barista-level drinks.
What Ingredients are in a Cappuccino?
The best part about making a cappuccino at home is that you need just two ingredients:
- Whole milk
Espresso coffee
You can make a cappuccino at home with any type of milk. I prefer whole milk for its rich flavor and subtle sweetness, but you could also use a lower-fat milk.
Other milk substitutes also work well in terms of taste. If you’re a fan of cappuccinos, mix things up by trying a new flavor or style.
You can make your cappuccino more enjoyable by adding cocoa powder or cinnamon to the milk foam on top, or by sweetening your coffee with coffee syrup.
A few of my favorite homemade coffee syrups are:
- Vanilla syrup
- Chocolate syrup
- Cinnamon brown sugar syrup
A vanilla cappuccino is a great way to start the day.
I’ll talk more about the different coffee roasts you can use and if you can use brewed coffee instead of espresso below:
How to make a cappuccino at home?
To make this drink at home, you will need a few simple ingredients and tools.
This is just a quick overview of the steps required to make a cappuccino at home. The recipe card contains the complete recipe.
What is the best coffee to use in a cappuccino?
The espresso coffee is the best coffee to use in a cappuccino. Espresso has a more concentrated flavor than regular coffee, making it ideal for creating rich cappuccinos.
Espresso has a robust flavor that pairs well with milk and is stronger than regular coffee because it is made with a higher coffee to water ratio.
To make espresso, you force hot water (not boiling) through finely-ground coffee beans using an espresso machine. The most important part of a cappuccino is the strong, concentrated coffee that it produces.
However, these machines can be quite expensive. An excellent alternative to this is a Moka pot or AeroPress. This coffee brewer produces an espresso-like coffee that is strong in flavor and perfectly pairs with milk.
To determine if an AeroPress or Moka pot coffee brewer is right for you, compare the pros and cons by clicking on their names.
You can make a cappuccino without an espresso machine by brewed coffee. More on this below:
Can you make cappuccino with regular coffee?
Regular coffee can be used to make a cappuccino, but it won’t taste as good.
I would recommend using a French press to make coffee for a cappuccino with a fuller flavor. Pour over coffee can be used for a sweeter flavor, as the coffee isn’t that strong.
If you want your coffee to be stronger, use more coffee and less water. Brewing your coffee twice will make it more potent.
You’ll end up with a drink that looks like a Café au Lait if you use brewed coffee to make a cappuccino.
To make a cappuccino at home that tastes like it’s from a coffee shop, try using dark roast coffee beans or an espresso blend.
Which coffee roasts work best in a cappuccino?
This question does not have one answer since people like different types of coffee.
However, cappuccinos are usually best made with good-quality espresso beans since they have a more robust flavor that can stand up to the milk and foam.
Find what works best for you by experimentation. Try different types of coffee roasts until you find a recipe for a cappuccino you love!
I tend to prefer either a medium or dark roast for my cappuccinos. A light roast is not strong enough to go through milk, so a darker roast is better.
If you want a good coffee to use in a cappuccino, then any dark roast coffee will work well.
A dark roast coffee will have more body and darkness, which will help to balance out the sweetness of the milk and sugar in a cappuccino.
Some dark roast coffees that are worth trying are French roasts, Italian roasts, or extra dark roasts.
How do you froth milk at home?
You can froth milk at home in a few ways. There are several ways to froth milk, including using a handheld milk frother, pouring milk into a mason jar and shaking it, or using a French press.
Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. The handheld milk frother is very easy to use, but it doesn’t produce as much foam as the mason jar or French press methods.
The mason jar method is more time-consuming but results in more foam. The French press method of making coffee takes a little longer than other methods, but it produces the most foam.
To make a latte, start by heating up the milk and frothing it until a layer of foam forms.
A French press can be used to steam milk. There are plenty of ways to froth milk at home – a French press can be used to steam milk, for example. This article provides six different ways to froth milk at home.
Now that you have a general idea of how to make a cappuccino and the different steps involved, let’s make a cappuccino:
Instructions:
- Start by brewing your espresso shot. Use the coffee brewer you like the most.
- Froth the milk using one of the techniques mentioned in the article. Make sure there’s a nice layer of milk foam on top.
- Pour the freshly brewed espresso coffee into a nice glass.
- Add the steamed milk into the glass and top with the milk foam.
- You can aim for one-third of espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam for the perfect cappuccino at home.
- Finish it with a dusting of cocoa powder or a sweetener you like the most and enjoy!