GUEST POST: 10 Ways to Drink Coffee Like an Italian
Are you dreaming of sitting at an Italian cafe, ordering a delightful cup of cappuccino, and reading (or even better, writing) a book, the sun reflecting from the centuries-old cobbled stone street?
If so, it's time to get acquainted with the mysterious, unwritten rules of enjoying coffee in Italy. The Italian coffee culture is too peculiar too ignore, and breaking its unspoken rules will make your barista mutter in disapproval.
For example, if you’d like to sit at a table outside and sip your espresso while you enjoy your favorite book, be prepared to pay double than if you had your coffee al banco, or at the counter. That’s how the locals do it, in three quick sips. Sitting outside is considered a luxury.
Or if you order a cappuccino in the evening, your barista might ask you to please pack your book and go somewhere else. Italians enjoy cappuccino only at breakfast time, with tasty, sweet pastries - this is indeed how you should do it, too. It will make the reading experience all the more pleasurable.
Med Cruise Guide created the infographic below to help you learn the essential coffee drinking rules in Italy. Explore and remember them, and avoid looking like a tourist - enjoy the beautiful scenery while sipping your caffe americano like the locals do.
Anna Kay is an avid traveler, photographer and editor at MedCruiseGuide.com. She loves exploring and island-hopping across the Mediterranean, and enjoying local food specialties.
