Drinking coffee in Italy is nothing else but a ritual. It is not just about ingesting a liquid; it is rather a sacred moment to sip and slowly enjoy a special drink while chatting with people and relaxing a bit during a busy day. Therefore, it is said that a bad quality coffee puts Italians in a bad mood.

It is interesting how many kinds of coffee you can order in an Italian bar. If you ever step in one of them, look around and pay attention to what people order. Likely, you will not find 10 people ordering the same kind of coffee.

Here is the list of some of the common ones:

1) Espresso:

With its 25ml of concentrated flavour, the Caffè Espresso is the standard in Italy and the building block of most of the others coffee variations.

Perfect on the go, for a small break, or after a meal, Espresso is the coffee Italians love and drink most.

2) Macchiato:

Caffè Macchiato, as many of you, might know, is just espresso with a hint of milk – so nothing to do with Cappuccino, although people tend to get confused between the two of them. Some people like it with cold milk, some others with the hot one. This drink is a really good choice if you prefer a sweeter taste and intense aroma of a regular espresso.

3) Ristretto:

The Caffè Ristretto is an even smaller type of expresso where the aroma and taste of the coffee are extracted from the grains and concentrated in the tiniest coffee you can have in Italy.

A tiny cup, that packs a punch!

4) Corretto:

This spiked Italian coffee pairs a splash of liquor (often different varieties of rum, grappa, mistral, or brandy) and a shot of espresso. The brew is supposed to have a dominant, rich coffee flavour and not to be overpowered by strong liquor.

These drinks are served, separately, allowing guests to combine them to their liking. Outside Italy, this drink goes by other names such as espresso corretto and carajillo.

5) Decaffeinato:

If caffeine is not your thing, (also in Italy, you can always find decaffeinated coffee), just order a Caffè Decaffeinato. Decaffeinato means decaf – you can pair the word with a cappuccino, macchiato, etc. But if you just say “un decaffeinato” you will get an espresso in its caffeine-free version.

Note that although very low on caffeine, there is no coffee entirely deprived of caffeine.

6) Marocchino:

A heavenly invention! A Marocchino (pronounced mah-row-keen-oh) is the equivalent of an American mocha, but in a much smaller cup, and usually glass. It is made with espresso, steamed milk, and cocoa powder, with an added sprinkle of cocoa powder on the foam – but no whipped cream.

7) Americano:

Do not order an Americano coffee in Italy, thinking you will get a typical American style drip coffee: our Americano is a shot of espresso in a large (usually a cappuccino) cup, served with a small pot of hot water on the side, which you can add to taste. Honestly, it is an insult to real American coffee.

8) Caffé Al Ginseng:

A popular coffee option widely available in Italy that finds its roots in the Asian continent: literally!

Ginseng is indeed invigorating, energizing, and digestive root. It is considered an almost universal remedy for sicknesses in various Asian cultures.

Italians took this plant and, by mixing it with dark coffee, created the Caffè al Ginseng, a healthier alternative to traditional coffee that is believed to cure stress and fatigue.

Conclusion: