From our editorial team
In Italy, coffee is more than just a drink - it is a ritual, a social constant and for many a basic cultural right.
"Il caffè è sacro", say the Italians: coffee is sacred. In Italy, coffee is not a lifestyle product, but a traditional part of life. The "soya latte to go" has nothing to do with Italian coffee enjoyment. The espresso in between is the three minutes of quality of life. There are unwritten rules surrounding Italian coffee culture:
1. Espresso is never "to go"
An espresso happens. Between appointments, when chatting with friends, after a meal, on the way to work. Italians often drink coffee several times a day, but never in thermo cups and never "to go". If you walk around Rome with a paper cup, you might drink coffee - but you don't drink it on the go. but not Italian.
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2. Drinking at the bar = cheaper, at the table = more expensive
Italians often drink their espresso standing up at the bar - in a few seconds, with a greeting to the barista. And there's a reason for this: coffee there often costs just €1-1.20. If you sit down, you pay at least twice as much in many cities.
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3. No coffee with syrup
Italian coffee is short, strong and direct. If you approach the bar with requests such as "caramel latte with extra soya milk and cinnamon", you will be looked at with irritation in many bars - if not ignored. In Italy there is:
- Espresso (usually simply "un caffè")
- Macchiato (Espresso with a hint of milk)
- Caffè lungo (a little more water)
- and a few regional variations - but no "dessert in a cup" (More about the regional coffee varieties here).
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More Information4. Pay first or pay later?
In some bars you pay in advance at the till ("alla cassa"), get a slip of paper and give it to the barista. In other bars, you pay directly at the bar after your coffee. There is no standardised system - so it's better to ask ("Pago prima o dopo?") instead of staying thirsty.
5. Cappuccino for breakfast only
The standard rule from (almost) every travel guide: no cappuccino after breakfast, especially not on a full stomach. For Italians, a cappuccino after a hot meal is almost a culinary mortal sin - too heavy, too milky, too much. But you know what? If you love it, drink it. Italians break their rules too - but they know exactly what they're doing. And that makes all the difference.
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