Submitted by Natalie Kaucic on the 2018 spring semester program in Rome, Italy…
Let me take a moment to share with you the fascinating world of Italian Coffee. First I will start out with the fact I have not seen a single chain coffee place in all of Rome. In other words, no Starbucks. Which is actually quite enjoyable, until I start craving that sugary Cinnamon Dolce Latte that I love so much.
A unique thing about Italy is that their “Coffee Shops” are called bars and are open late in the evening because they start a casual alcoholic drink service around 7:00 pm. I will likely do another post about the drinking culture in Italy because I find it fascinating.
The rules of Italian Coffee and Bars…
- The Cappuccino Law: Absolutely NO cappuccinos after 12:00 pm, the general rule is 11:00 am, but I’ve seen some Italians go later. Latte Macchiatos are also not consumed after this hour.
- Side note: you CAN consume Caffe Macchiato anytime during the day. Your barista will usually ask you to indicate which type you want if you just say macchiato.
- I want a Latte: You CANNOT say Vorrei un Latte (May I have a Milk) they will just give you milk with no coffee.
- Espresso or Caffè: Caffè is the general term for coffee AND what you say when you want an espresso. BUT, you never ask for an “espresso”, only “caffè” when you order. I have actually grown to like these and Italians drink them ALL the time.
- Side note: They have double espressos on the menu, but Italians do not order them, they would rather go two times to get their fix.
- Iced Coffee: To all my Dunkin’ lovers on the East Coast, YES Italians do have iced coffee, but you won’t find any cup larger than the (tall/small) we find in the states. There are a couple places around my school, John Cabot, that have more American iced coffee (it’s so gross), but the Italians during the summer will drink a Shakerato (milk, caffè, and sugar shaken, not stirred and poured into a glass, for my Delaware friends you can get a little taste of this at Brewhaha, I would highly recommend it!) or a caffè freddo (cold espresso). If you go to Sicilia or a more southern location, they will have a drink called Granita di caffè which is like a tiny frappuccino with a dollop of panna (Italian whipped cream which is either lightly sweetened or just whipped cream).
- Paying for your coffee: Cash only, preferably exact change.
- Note: some bars want you to pay first and show your receipt, others want you to order your drink, drink it, then pay. As an American, I found it dreadfully uncomfortable to drink my coffee then pay for it. It felt like stealing in some way, but now I’m used to it and really like the level of trust that the baristas have with their customers.
- Note II: If you’re paying more than 1 euro for an espresso you’re getting ripped off. Cappuccinos and Caffè Lattes should be around 1,20.
- Caffè al Ginseng: I have not yet tried this drink, but it is a naturally sweet espresso that you can make a cappuccino, caffè latte or macchiato with. It’s a little nutty and made with ginseng extract. An afternoon to evening drink.
- Italians are ritualistic: The small bars I go into, everyone knows each other and it is not uncommon for everyone to talk to one another. That bar is their morning spot and will be for years to come.
- Where to Drink: Ah, another striking difference between the United States and Italy: no to go cups! Well, some places have them, but they’re made for tourists. You drink your coffee at the bar in a porcelain cup with a saucer and a spoon to stir in sugar. If you want to sit down, there might be a service charge, so I usually drink at the bar (this sounds very normal when I’m talking to my Italian friends about my morning habits and concerning to my parents at home when I tell them I drink at the bar every morning!)
- Do Italians drink anything other than coffee? Yes, they do! Spremuta d’arancia is a morning favorite! Fresh squeezed OJ right in front of you. It. Is. So. Good. Also, the cioccolata calda is a must for cold days, and after I write this post, I’m running off to go try one for the first time. I’ve heard it’s so thick that it’s almost like drinking chocolate pudding. Needless to say, I’m very excited. Sometimes Italians drink tea, but not often, you can find it everywhere, but I rarely see people drinking it. I’ll usually make a cup a tea for myself at home!
- There are so many more unsaid rules, most of which I am still trying to learn and implement, but they make every trip to a bar even better!
Bar Bernardini is my favorite place. It is also the workplace of my two favorite Italians, Giada and Silvestro. I see them at least three days a week and it always makes my day. The place is nothing fancy, but I love my morning trips there. I love working on my Italian with them. They are so kind and supportive and help answer all of my questions about culture, coffee and so on. Not to mention, they always put cacao (cocoa powder) in my cappuccinos! They let me stay at the bar and listen to conversations so I can improve my conversational Italian. It’s so nice to have people who are patient with me and feel okay to correct me when I make an error. I already know I’ll miss them when I’m back in California!
