When In Rome.......
I think one of the greatest pastimes when travelling pretty well anywhere in the world is to be able to settle down at a café with a nice cup of coffee and watch the world go by.
The thing is, when you are in Venice, or any other fabulous place in Italy, there don’t seem to be many places called a Café.
They are often called a Bar which is a bit confusing. You can buy a coffee or a drink.
Sometimes there is no one sitting at the tables outside because Italians drink their caffè standing at the bar.
Coffee drinking is a pretty quick daily ritual in Italy not a leisurely opportunity to while away a morning.
However when you are on holiday, it’s rather nice to sit down and take it all in. The trouble is table service for your coffee and a chair to sit on will cost you about 30-40% more than standing at the bar. But it’s worth it.
In Piazza San Marco it will cost a lot more-a lot, lot more because the bars have musicians and history.
But that's also worth it, at least once anyway.
So settle in to a table and pretty soon a waiter will come and ask you what you would like.
Now, cappuccino or any milky drink is a morning drink only, not to be ordered after 10 or 11am. Italians believe that milk and milky drinks with food unsettle your your stomach.
If you ask for a cappuccino later in the day you will no doubt receive one but probably with a fair bit of eye rolling from the waiter. It’s just not done.
Cappuccino is delicious, just the right temperature to be consumed straight away and much smaller than the ones we have outside Italy.
If you would like a black coffee, you ask for a caffè because that is the default coffee. It will be tiny and strong. Don’t ask for an espresso, that's the machine.
If you ask for a latte, like I did way back in the dark ages you will be given a cup of milk – really embarrassing.
You only get flavoured coffees in Starbucks, not in Italy.
If you decide to be Italian and have your coffee standing at the bar you should tell the cashier at the cash register what you would like and pay for it. Then take your scontrino (receipt) and hand it over to the barista who will make your coffee. Sugar and cremina are found on the bar for you to help yourself.
If you order in this way, you can’t sit down.
As you can see, coffee drinking in Italy is very complicated so here are the main coffees for you.
Un caffè: Two mouthfulls of strong, black coffee.
Un caffè doppio: Two mouthfulls of double shot strong, black coffee.
Un cafè ristretto: One mouthful of very concentrated black coffee.
Un cappuccino: Caffè topped up with hot, frothy milk.
Un caffè macchiato: Caffè with a splash of hot milk.
Un caffè latte: Mild coffee with hot milk.
Un caffè lungo: A caffè with extra hot water this might also be called un caffè americano.
Un caffè corretto: Coffee with a slug of brandy or grappa (separate in a tiny glass).
In the summer when it is really hot you will be able to get a refreshing iced coffee.
Un caffè freddo or un cappuccino freddo.
