Last Updated on September 8, 2025 by admin

I recently wrote all about breakfast in Italy, so I thought I’d follow up with a post dedicated to the centerpiece of the first meal of the day in the bel paese: the coffee!

Coffee is everywhere in Italy. It’s the number one breakfast beverage, it often follows lunch and dinner, and it’s drunk throughout the day, too.

When Jeremy and I moved into our first apartment in Rome, the landlord left us a Moka pot just in case we didn’t have our own. There’s even a coffee machine at my gym!

Read on for everything you need to know about coffee in Italy.

The ultimate guide to Italian coffee

Italian coffee vs. filter coffee

At the heart of every Italian coffee drink is espresso.

Espresso is made by forcing hot water through a machine at a high pressure and high temperature. The coffee beans are ground very finely.

Italians have a descriptor for how coffee should appear as it comes out of an espresso machine – “a coda di topo” – meaning “like a mouse’s tail.” In other words, the coffee should come out in a thin, steady stream.

Making filter coffee, on the other hand, is a slower process in which hot water seeps through coarser grounds and drips into the pot.

Where can you get coffee in Italy?

A bar

The place to go for coffee in Italy is the bar. They’re everywhere – even most villages have a bar that serves coffee, pastries, sandwiches, drinks and sometimes light meals.

Note that trips to the bar for coffee are generally short affairs (more on this below). Many Italians don’t even sit down, they just have their coffee standing up – at the bar – and drink it fairly quickly.

A pasticceria

Many bakeries double as bars, so if you see a pasticceria that serves coffee, you know you’ll be in for great pastries alongside your caffeine hit.

Cafés and coffee houses

Cafes and coffee houses where you can sit and talk or work aren’t as ubiquitous as bars in Italy, but they do exist and are becoming more and more common.

I’ve compiled a list of cafes in Rome that allow co-working for the digital nomads or remote workers  out there.

Restaurants

You can also get coffee at restaurants in Italy because it’s extremely common to have an espresso or caffè macchiato after a meal.

When I worked in restaurants in the US, it wasn’t uncommon for people to drop in for coffee and dessert. This isn’t really done in Italy. If you go to a restaurant, it’s expected that you’ll eat a first or second course (or both, if you’re really hungry).

Italian coffee culture 101

It’s quick

In the US and other countries, meeting for coffee means sitting down and chitchatting over your mug for a long time, possibly even hours. In Italy, that’s not generally the case.

Like I said above, there are some places where you can sit and talk or work with your coffee, but usually, getting coffee in Italy is quick.

As I explained in this post about Italian dining habits, it’s often drunk while standing at the bar – you can be in and out in just a few minutes if you choose.

Takeaway coffee in Italy

Takeaway coffee is nowhere near as common in Italy as it is in the US and elsewhere, but that doesn’t mean it’s not available.

In fact, it’s become much more common because of the COVID-19 pandemic. For a while, dining/drinking in was forbidden, but takeaway was allowed. When these restrictions made it impossible to go to a bar for coffee, bar owners quickly adapted by offering takeaway coffees. Now, many places offer coffee to go.

If you’d like to take your coffee away, ask for it “da asporto” (da ass-POR-toe) or “da portare via” (da por-TAH-ray VEE-ya).

One size fits all

Ordering a small, medium or large coffee isn’t generally a possibility in Italy. That’s right, the sizes at Starbucks that sound Italian are actually just marketing malarky.

That said, you may notice that some places do offer multiple sizes – especially ones that cater to an international crowd or are targeting tourists. Many train station cafes will do a large cappuccino or latte, for example.

The water back

At many bars, you’ll be given a small glass of water with your coffee. I’m not quite sure on the rule here – some people seem to drink it before their coffee to cleanse their palate, and some people drink it after to get rid of any residual bitterness.

Go wild, I say, and do whatever you want.

Italian coffee throughout the day

In the morning, many Italians have their coffee at a bar, usually with a pastry. If you want a larger coffee with lots of milk, this is the time to get it. As I said in this post about authentic Italian food, Italians don’t tend to drink big, milky coffees after lunch or dinner because milk is thought to cause issues with digestion.

After lunch or dinner, it’s common to have an espresso or a caffè macchiato, as I mentioned above, although not everywhere will have milk to make a macchiato (just FYI).

Coffee breaks throughout the day are also common. When I was working in an office full time, we usually had two coffee breaks – one mid-morning, around 10 or so, and one mid-afternoon, at about 3. There was also a coffee at breakfast, and one after lunch, too!

Italian coffee culture at home: the Moka pot

I have never been into an Italian home that didn’t have a Moka pot. Some people have replaced them with fancy Nespresso machines, but I’d be willing to bet that even the people who have keep their Moka pots somewhere.

Odds are, if you stay at someone’s home or rent an Airbnb, you will have your coffee from a Moka pot.

Types of coffee in Italy

Below, I’ve included the standard types of coffee that you’ll find at most bars and cafés.

Note that most restaurants will only serve espresso after meals. Like I said above, they may or may not have milk to make a macchiato.

Let’s take a look at all the different types of Italian coffee available.

Hot coffees

Caffè (espresso)

Espresso is where all Italian coffee begins. Each of the hot drinks that follow start with a shot of espresso (with the exception of Caffè al Ginseng).

You can simply order “un caffè,” and a tiny cup of strong, hot espresso will arrive.

In northern Italy, this type of coffee is sometimes referred to as a “caffè liscio”. Elsewhere, it may be called “caffè normale”. This is to distinguish between a regular caffè and a caffè macchiato (more on that below).

Caffè doppio

Need an extra caffeine boost? Order a double espresso, or caffè doppio.

Macchiato

Order a macchiato in the US, and you’re getting a big coffee, but in Italy, a caffè macchiato is just an espresso with a bit of milk. You may be asked if you want the milk to be steamed and hot (caffè macchiato caldo) or cold (caffè macchiato freddo).

Schiumato

Another slightly milky variation of an espresso, the “schiumato” is espresso that comes with a drop of “schiuma,” or foamed milk.

Ristretto

A ristretto is an extra short espresso (yes, it’s possible to have a coffee that’s even smaller than a regular espresso in Italy).

Caffè lungo

A caffè lungo is an extra-long espresso.

When making a caffè lungo, the barista will allow more water to come through the machine, “lengthening” the coffee.

Americano

Un caffè americano is espresso with hot water added. It resembles American filtered coffee in appearance, but it’s still espresso based.

Cappuccino

A cappuccino is probably the most common Italian coffee to have at breakfast, and it’s essentially made the same way around the world – with espresso and steamed milk that’s foamy on top. Some people sprinkle cocoa powder on top.

Remember, coffee in Italy generally just comes in one size, so cappuccini in Italy will most likely be smaller than what you’re used to outside of the country.

Caffè latte

Another steamed milk and coffee mashup, a caffè latte generally doesn’t have the same foam as a cappuccino, and it comes with more milk. In Italy, it’s often served in a tall glass rather than a mug, but you will also see it served in a mug in some places.

Note: If you want what an American would refer to as a “latte,” make sure you order a CAFFÈ latte in Italy, because if you just order “latte,” you will get a glass of milk.

Latte macchiato

Ok, I will admit that I have been confused in the past about the difference between a caffè latte and a latte macchiato. I thought for a long time that they were the same thing, and I kind of think to some people they still are, but anyway, I did a bit of reading, and it seems that there are some slight differences.

Apparently, when you’re making a latte macchiato, you put slightly less coffee than what’s in a caffe latte, and you pour the coffee into the milk, rather than pouring the milk into the coffee as you would with a caffe latte.

Again, I feel like in some places you could order either and get the same thing, so I’m gonna give this one a big boh? and move on.

Marrocchino or Espressino (as it’s known in Puglia)

A marrocchino is espresso with milk and cocoa powder. I never order this, and I have no idea why, because yum.

Note that in Puglia, it’s referred to as an “espressino”.

Caffè con panna

Feeling decadent? Order a caffè con panna, or coffee with whipped cream.

Caffè corretto

Hungover? On your way to the club and need a boost? Get yourself a caffè corretto, which is espresso that’s “corrected” with a glug of alcohol.

I’m not drinking these days because I recently had a baby, but I was partial to Bailey’s in mine back when I was drinking. Lots of people go for Amaretto or grappa (queasy at the thought of the latter).

Caffè al ginseng

This low-caffeine option is sweetened with ginseng extract and sugar, and also contains instant coffee and powdered cream or milk.

Caffè deca/Hag

No, I’m not calling you names – Hag is a brand of decaf coffee in Italy. “Hag” has actually become a proprietary eponym like “Xerox” or “Kleenex”, so some people will refer to decaf simply as “Hag”.

You can also order a “caffè deca” or if you’re feeling like practicing your Italian vowel sounds, “caffè decaffeinato” (day-CAF-ay-eee-nah-toe).

Caffè d’orzo

Caffè d’orzo isn’t actually coffee at all – it’s a hot beverage made from ground barley. Does it taste like coffee? Apparently, it shares some of coffee’s bitterness, but I’m afraid I can’t confirm or deny that claim as I’ve never had it.

It is caffeine free though, so if you’re sensitive to stimulants, give caffè d’orzo a try.

Types of cold coffee in Italy

There are also coffees to cool you down on hot Italian days!

Note that ordering any of them outside of spring and summer might get you an odd look or two, or they might not be available at all.

Caffè freddo

Caffè freddo is espresso that’s brewed and put into a bottle and stored in the fridge. It’s the perfect beverage to sip on those boiling days when even thinking about drinking something hot makes you sweat.

Many bars add sugar to the coffee while it’s hot. You can ask if they have it sweetened (zuccherato) or unsweetened (non zuccherato or senza zucchero).

Caffè shakerato

Caffè shakerato is another antidote to a hot day. It’s coffee that’s made fresh and then cooled down with ice in – yup, you’ve got it – a cocktail shaker.

Crema al caffè

Crema al caffè is a rich, nearly frozen mixture of cream, coffee and sugar.

It’s almost like a very soft, liquidy gelato. You can usually find it being stirred continuously in what looks like a little slushy machine.

Granita di caffè

A common breakfast food in Sicily, granita di caffè is shaved ice with coffee, and it’s often served with a dollop of whipped cream on top.

Affogato

An affogato is the perfect pick-me-up on a hot summer day: one scoop of gelato is “drowned” in a shot of espresso.

Iced cappuccino/Iced caffè latte

Although outside of the very traditional canon of Italian coffee, more and more places, at least at places that serve specialty coffee in Rome, are offering iced versions of classics like cappuccino and caffè latte these days. Don’t expect to find them everywhere.

A few notes on coffee in Italy

Many bars will offer their own special coffees. One of Rome’s oldest, Sant’Eustachio, is famed for its delicious coffee and unique offerings.

Many areas of Italy also have their own regional coffee drinks, too.

I hope you found this guide to Italian coffee helpful. Which one’s your favorite? Do you have a favorite coffee bar in Italy? Share it in the comments!

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