Italian Coffee Drinks

Whenever you think of Italy, you remember its delicious and tasty Italian coffee drinks, after all it is the land of amazing coffee preparations. You would be surprised to know that most people in Italy prefer coffee over beer and that's why you'll find different types of coffee in every Italian bar you go. Coffee is popularly known as the national breakfast of Italy, and travelers from all around the world specially travel to Italy in search for the best coffee. Remember that coffee didn't originated in Italy but the coffee culture was surely invented here, and then made popular by the Italians.

South America and Indonesia are two places which export the major chunk of coffee beans to the world. It is a well-known fact that the first coffee shop in Europe was opened in the early 16th century and gradually coffee became the favorite beverage of Europe. However, coffee remained a luxury item in those days, and was used mainly for medicinal purposes. Many years later coffee was transported to the various European colonies in Asia and South America and this is how coffee became available to general public.

Types of Italian Coffee

When I think about the various Italian coffee drinks one name just flashes across my mind and that's "Espresso". Coffee in Italy is not just served at breakfast, it is actually consumed by people throughout the day. If you ever travel to Italy, I highly recommend you to have the following Italian coffee drinks.

Caffe
The whole world calls it an espresso. It is a small cup of very strong coffee beans and is garnished with a caramel colored foam.

Caffe con Schiuma
It is a drink which is prepared in such a way as to produce "schiuma" (dark-colored flavored cream) on top of it.

Caffe Ristretto
This coffee drink is even smaller than an espresso and is much more condensed.

Caffe Americano
It is weaker than the espresso but is quite strong than the regular American coffee. It is a drink in which espresso is added to hot water and is served in a large cup or glass.

Caffe con Zucchero
It is an espresso with sugar, in most bars you will have the option of adding sugar according to your own preference. However, in some places like in the south of Naples this drink comes with sugar and has one of the best coffee beans.

Cappuccino
Many people believe it to be just another espresso with steamed milk, but if you have a look at it closely you will see the various types of coffee ingredients added in it. In a bar, cappuccino is made with steamed milk which is poured very carefully just before the final garnishing which can be done by cacao powder and chocolate topping. Italians usually have it in the morning.

Caffe Latte
One of the most popular coffee drinks, caffè latte is made with hot milk poured over espresso and this drink doesn't require cream or foam on top. In Italy be sure to tell them which kind of milk you would prefer with caffe latte.

Caffe Borghetti
An espresso which is garnished by a drop of borghetti liquor which is usually drunk at break time by soccer players.

How to Order Coffee in Italy

I think by now you must have understood that coffee for Italians is very important. Whenever you travel to Italy you would be surprised to see that though being a small nation it has infinite number of coffee shops, and you can find a delicious coffee shop in every street and at every corner. One of the most important things to remember while ordering a coffee is that it is going to cost you more. Italians are very proud of the fact that they serve one of the best coffees in the world. The coffee beans are roasted and brewed by expert methods which gives the drink a rich taste and aroma. A cup of coffee in Italy can cost you around $35, it seems strange but just take a sip of that coffee and you'll understand why. Remember that many Italian coffee bars do not serve cappuccino after 11 am.

I hope you have enjoyed reading this article on Italian coffee drinks. Drinking coffee in Italy is more like a lifestyle, so make sure you have a taste of all the above mentioned drinks and leave your comments.