Types of Italian Coffee

If you are visiting Italy, you will want to check out the Italian coffee that is available there. Whether it is your morning pick-me-up, an after dinner drink, or simply something to enjoy mid-afternoon there are numerous varieties to choose from. Many Italians stop for coffee on their way to work, just as many Americans hit the local Starbucks. While you might not be getting up at 6 AM while on your vacation, you should still take the opportunity to enjoy a real coffee from one of the fancy machines.

Types of coffee

There are two main types of Italian coffee: caffe and caffe hag. Caffe is a strong coffee, similar to espresso, and has caramel-colored foam on top. Caffe Hag is the decaf version; it may also be labeled as decafinato. You can order these types of coffee any time of day. Drinks like cappuccino are not drunk by Italians after 11 AM, so if you see people drinking them in the afternoon it is likely a tourist bar.

Alterations

You can change how your Italian coffee is made by ordering a caffe lungo or a caffe ristretto. A caffe lungo is a long coffee, where there is more water added to make the coffee weak and bitter. It is also known as caffe Americano. Caffe ristretto is restricted coffee, where less water is added. The drink should be more concentrated, but not bitter.

Additions

If you enjoy Italian coffee or espresso there are numerous additions that you can add to it to personalize it to your tastes. These include:

o    Caffe con panna - espresso with whipped cream

o    Caffe con zucchero - espresso with sugar. In most places you will add sugar yourself, but in southern Italy you may have to order it sense zucchero if you do not like sweet coffee.

o    Caffe corretto - coffee with a drizzle of liquor, often cognac or grappa.

o    Caffe latte - Espresso with hot milk. However, if you are not at a tourist bar this could be milk or steamed milk.

o    Caffe macchiato - coffee with just a stain of milk added to it.

o    Cappuccino - a shot of espresso with steamed milk and foam.

o    Latte macchiato - steamed milk stained with espresso.

Specialty Coffees

If you are thinking of something different but still want to try an Italian coffee, here are a couple suggestions:

o    Bicerin - this Italian coffee is traditional in the area near Torino, and cannot be found outside of the Piemonte region. It features dense hot chocolate, espresso, and cream layered together.

o    Café della casa - this is "house coffee" and would be the specialty of that particular coffee bar.

o    Caffe freddo - cold or iced coffee

o    Caffe shakerato - this is a combination of espresso, sugar, and a lot of ice (and in some cases a bit of chocolate syrup) shaken until frothy

No matter what your coffee tastes include, there is sure to be an Italian coffee that will suit them and give you a unique coffee drinking experience.