If you’ve never been to Italy, you might have heard that ordering a coffee in Italy can be challenging.
This is not because Italian is a difficult language to master, but because in Italian cafes – called bar – you can find several different types of coffee. So, knowing them can definitely make the difference between getting what you expected and a big surprise.
So, if you want to prepare yourself for a trip to Italy, in this article I’m going to explain 16 types of coffee that you can order in Italy.
1. CAFFE’
In Italy, if you order un caffé you’ll get an espresso.
2. CAFFE’ MACCHIATO
Caffé macchiato literally means stained coffee. This Italian coffee is an espresso served with a spot of milk in it. You can ask for a caffè macchiato caldo – where the milk added is warm – or for a caffè macchiato freddo – where the milk added is cold.
3. CAFFE’ SCHIUMATO
Caffè schiumato literally means foamed coffee. It’s an espresso with some foamed milk over it.
4. MAROCCHINO
Marocchino means Moroccan. This Italian coffee is an espresso with foamed milk and a sprinkle of cacao over it.
5. DECAFFEINATO
A decaffeinato, also called deca, is an espresso without caffeine.
6. CAFFE’ CORRETTO
Caffè corretto means laced coffee. So, it’s an Italian espresso to which some drops of liqueur, usually sambuca or grappa, are added.
7. CAFFE’ D’ORZO
A caffè d’orzo is an Italian coffee made with barley.
8. CAFFE’ AL GINSENG
The idea of this drink comes from Asia. It’s an instant coffee made with the extract of ginseng. It’s very very sweet.
9. CAFFE’ DOPPIO
Caffè doppio literally means double coffee. This Italian coffee is made combining two espresso coffees.
10. CAFFE’ LUNGO
Caffè lungo means long coffee and it has more water than a common espresso. Don’t confuse it with caffè doppio.
11. CAFFE’ RISTRETTO
Caffè ristretto is the opposite of caffè lungo. Indeed, it is made with less water than a normal espresso, so its flavor is much more concentrated.
12. CAFFE’ FREDDO
As the name caffè freddo suggests, this Italian coffee is an espresso served cold.
13. CAFFE’ CON PANNA
Caffè con panna is an espresso with whipped cream.
14. CAFFE’ SHAKERATO
Caffè shakerato is another type of Italian coffee. It’s an espresso mixed with milk, ice and sugar. The coffee is then added to a cocktail shaker, shook and served.
15. CAFFE’ AMERICANO
Caffè americano is the closest drink to an American-style coffee you’ll find in an Italian bar.
It’s usually an espresso to which hot water is added. It’s served in a bigger cup than the usual espresso cup.
16. BICERIN
Bicerin is a typical drink in Piedmont. It’s made with espresso, dense hot cocoa and cream. All the ingredients are layered in a small traditional glass.
If you’ve already been to Italy, what’s your favorite Italian coffee? If you’ve not visited Italy yet, which of these coffees would you order in an Italian bar?
Credits
Original image by naturalpastels
