In the previous article we gave you some tips to start perfectly the academic year. Once you follow them, you would be able to survive the school but there’s still one more tip missing… drink COFFEE!
If you are already in the middle of your first exam session you will definitely need to follow this advice in order to have lot of energy and be more productive.
Coffee was introduced in the 1500s. Since then, Italy has boarded the train by taking the beverage and putting its own authentic and classic spin on it by creating their own unique blend of Italian Coffee Drinks.
Italian coffee drinks are something of an art, built on tradition and simplicity and many of the traditional bars have been in the family for generations.
There are many different types of Italian coffee drinks. Let’s explore the main ones and consider this ‘coffee experience’ as your unofficial orientation ceremony to Italy!
- Caffè Espresso
Caffè is the Italian word for coffee, but it is also what Italian people use to order an espresso, the most common type and your first step to becoming less of a “straniero” (foreigner).
Espresso is a single shot of caffeine and if you’re feeling particularly wild, you can opt for a “doppio”, a double espresso.
You can have it with sugar or, if you like bitter taste, without sugar.
Remember: in Italy a caffè is drunk at all times of the day- it brings on the energy!
- Caffè Ristretto
It’s similar to a caffè espresso as it’s a single shot of espresso, but it contains less water, thus giving it a more concentrated flavor.
This is something perfect when you only have time for one sip which makes sense from the meaning of the name: ristretto means ‘restricted’.
- Caffè Lungo
Lungo means “long” but, very important my fellow coffee addicts, this is not a caffè Americano. Instead, it’s the perfect bridge between a caffè normale and a traditional filtered coffee of the Anglo-American world.
There is more water than a caffè, but it’s the same water that’s run through the espresso grounds, and not hot water that is added in at the end like in the Americano.
- Cappuccino
This is the second most iconic Italian coffee drink, after the caffè. It’s made with 1/3 espresso, 1/3 steamed milk, and 1/3 foam. In fact, the name “cappuccino” comes from the brown color of the robes of ancient Capuchin Monks.
The cappuccino comes with some very serious rules- it is a breakfast coffee and is never drunk by Italians after 11 am.
Moreover, in order to be a true Italian, you should try eating a croissant by immersing it in the cappuccino: if you don’t do this at each breakfast, then you’re not having a real breakfast!
- Macchiato
A macchiato, which means “stained” or “spotted” is the perfect mix between a caffè and a cappuccino. It’s an espresso that is “spotted” with a drop or two of hot steamed milk on top.
Many Italian people find the quantity of milk in a cappuccino to be too much but a straight caffè to be too strong, so this is the perfect happy medium.
All this may be enough to start your Italian journey; but if you want to discover Italy 100%, you should also try Caffè Shakerato, Crema di Caffè and Caffè Marocchino!
