Types Of Coffee In Italy

Rosie

Rosie

Community Member
Apr 6, 2013
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Italy
How many types of coffee are there in Italy?
THIS is the question! :D (oddly enough, I haven't found a topic about the many types of Italian coffee... it's time we talk about it!)

Ok, from what I know, there are quite a few types of Italian coffee, that I have personally had in my almost 7 years here:

  • caffè normale - it's the espresso, of just coffee, when you ask for one coffee at the bar, you will get a small cup (really small cup!) with regular, strong coffee.
  • caffè corto - this is a very, very concentrated small cup of coffee. It's so concentrated, that you will get a few drops of coffee, in your tiny cup. These few drops are probably dangerous if you're not used to Italian coffee, and it's practically impossible to have a caffe corto in another country.
  • caffè decafeinato - this is coffee without the caffeine. I often have this after dinner or late at night, if I'm out with friends and they want to have coffee.... when you drink it, you're under the impression that you just had a strong, regular coffee! I always feel that "hit" in my chest when I have it! But it's just an impression, it really doesn't have any caffeine in it so you can safely sleep afterwards :)
  • caffè macchiato - this is regular coffee, but with a "spot" of milk or milk foam (macchia means spot, in English :) )
  • caffè lungo - this is a regular coffee, but more diluted... however (!!) it contains more caffeine that the regular coffee, because it contains more water. So... don't think that a caffee lungo is less 'powerful', in fact it's twice as strong as a regular one.
  • ginseng - this is not coffee, but it does contain caffeine! Many have a ginseng instead of coffee. Including myself, if I already drank coffee in the morning (I try to stick to 1 cup a day).
  • Caffè alla nocciola - is awesome!! It's regular coffee, with roasted nuts and whipped cream! You HAVE to try it if you come visit Italy!
  • Cappuccino - I assume everyone knows what cappuccino is :) It's coffee... but with lots of milk foam!
  • Caffè d'orzo - is a type of coffee, without caffeine, made out of "orzo", a coffee substitute. It doesn't taste like coffee, but it's tasty nonetheless.
These are all the types of coffee I've personally had.
There are more! There's coffee with lime, there's American coffee (meaning, coffee made with the filter), turkish coffee.... ecc., ecc., ecc.! But I haven't had these yet.

Which types of coffee did you have?
Anything you liked in particular?
 
  • Macchiato Freddo (mahk-kee-AHT-oh FREHD-doh): The same drink, “stained” with cold milk, or sometimes served with a carafe of cold milk on the side.
 
I always have a doppio espresso or a lungo. I like strong coffee and it's more about the quality than the quantity of the coffee. I find Italians pride themselves on good coffee and will always make sure you are happy with a coffee unlike the UK where people don't take as much care.
 
^ I've lived here for almost 7 years, yet I'm still not able to drink an espresso or a lungo, without feeling like I'm gonna have a heart attack :D
I can only drink caffe macchiato, preferably with cold milk foam, but hot milk foam is just as good.

I have also drank "Italian coffee" at home. I used the brackets because - to be honest - drinking Italian coffee in another country is more of a joke :P They do serve you a small cup with little coffee in it, but it's not the same thing. I don't know if this is the same situation in the UK you speak about, Gabe, but I bet it's similar. I was served a small cup of coffee, coffee with no taste, no aroma, not even the same smell.
 
Rosie said:
^ I've lived here for almost 7 years, yet I'm still not able to drink an espresso or a lungo, without feeling like I'm gonna have a heart attack :D
I can only drink caffe macchiato, preferably with cold milk foam, but hot milk foam is just as good.

I have also drank "Italian coffee" at home. I used the brackets because - to be honest - drinking Italian coffee in another country is more of a joke :p They do serve you a small cup with little coffee in it, but it's not the same thing. I don't know if this is the same situation in the UK you speak about, Gabe, but I bet it's similar. I was served a small cup of coffee, coffee with no taste, no aroma, not even the same smell.
Click to expand...

I'm very particular about my coffee and only have espresso from Italian places. Even in New York I have had coffee from places that were hip but were dreadful espressos. I don't drink milk, so if the espresso looks bad, I will have a filter coffee or a soft drink instead.
You can tell if the espresso is good or not and I will send back a bad one. I always have a doppia anyhow so they usually know I expect a good coffee.
 
Rosie said:
How many types of coffee are there in Italy?
THIS is the question! :D (oddly enough, I haven't found a topic about the many types of Italian coffee... it's time we talk about it!)

Ok, from what I know, there are quite a few types of Italian coffee, that I have personally had in my almost 7 years here:

  • caffè normale - it's the espresso, of just coffee, when you ask for one coffee at the bar, you will get a small cup (really small cup!) with regular, strong coffee.
  • caffè corto - this is a very, very concentrated small cup of coffee. It's so concentrated, that you will get a few drops of coffee, in your tiny cup. These few drops are probably dangerous if you're not used to Italian coffee, and it's practically impossible to have a caffe corto in another country.
  • caffè decafeinato - this is coffee without the caffeine. I often have this after dinner or late at night, if I'm out with friends and they want to have coffee.... when you drink it, you're under the impression that you just had a strong, regular coffee! I always feel that "hit" in my chest when I have it! But it's just an impression, it really doesn't have any caffeine in it so you can safely sleep afterwards :)
  • caffè macchiato - this is regular coffee, but with a "spot" of milk or milk foam (macchia means spot, in English :) )
  • caffè lungo - this is a regular coffee, but more diluted... however (!!) it contains more caffeine that the regular coffee, because it contains more water. So... don't think that a caffee lungo is less 'powerful', in fact it's twice as strong as a regular one.
  • ginseng - this is not coffee, but it does contain caffeine! Many have a ginseng instead of coffee. Including myself, if I already drank coffee in the morning (I try to stick to 1 cup a day).
  • Caffè alla nocciola - is awesome!! It's regular coffee, with roasted nuts and whipped cream! You HAVE to try it if you come visit Italy!
  • Cappuccino - I assume everyone knows what cappuccino is :) It's coffee... but with lots of milk foam!
  • Caffè d'orzo - is a type of coffee, without caffeine, made out of "orzo", a coffee substitute. It doesn't taste like coffee, but it's tasty nonetheless.
These are all the types of coffee I've personally had.
There are more! There's coffee with lime, there's American coffee (meaning, coffee made with the filter), turkish coffee.... ecc., ecc., ecc.! But I haven't had these yet.

Which types of coffee did you have?
Anything you liked in particular?
Click to expand...

Thanks for the extensive list. This may make it easier the next time I want to order coffee in Italy. I guess Starbucks has something to compete with :)

I always thought their crazy list of different types of coffee was long, but I suppose they got the idea from the Italians because half of the menu has Italian names.
 
Italian coffee is an art form with many customs and traditions. Whether it's a caffè corretto thrown back like a shot, a cappuccino and brioche for breakfast, or agranita di caffè con panna to cool off from the hot midday sun. In Italy there is a coffee drink specific for every time and mood.Coffee is a big part of the daily life in Italy and I am pretty sure that the life cannot go on without that. Since it’s delicious, we all are ok with this! There aree more than 10 types of coffee in Italy.
1.Espresso: If you order as ‘un caffè’, you will be served an espresso. a small cup of a strong coffee. (20-25ml)
2.Caffè doppio: Two portions of espresso served in a small cup. (40-50ml
3. Caffè lungo: The same amount of espresso, but diluted by a small amount of water.
4. Caffè latte: An espresso with 175-225 ml milk in it.
These are only some types og coffee in Italy.
 
I miss all of the espresso in Italy. I love to try new kinds of espresso first, once I know my favorites, then I will make other drinks, such as a latte. You need a good quality base first. The espresso in Italy is truly unmatched. It's very difficult to find an espresso brewed to such perfection. I enjoy Saicaf and Lavazza brands the best. A doppio at Stabucks, however, is not that bad :) Does anyone have their own espresso machine at home?
 
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