Coffee isn’t just a beverage in Italy, it’s part of their culture. Just like in America, Italians make their coffee at home or stop at their favorite spot to grab a cup. The main difference between their morning coffee and ours is the different types of coffee and the culture that goes along with it.
Culture
Every morning, bars throughout the cities of Italy are flooded with all types of people looking to grab a coffee. The two most ordered drinks are espresso and cappuccino which I will discuss more in detail later on. Many Italians order ‘un cornetto’ to accompany their espresso or cappuccino. Some of the more popular bars around the cities can be more crowded with Italians along the edges of the bar so you have to be more assertive if you want to get your coffee. Experiencing a bar like this will give you immersion into an Italian morning in a bar.
Although many Italians prefer to go to a bar to get their coffee, many make a cup of espresso before they leave the house. Generally Italians wait to get their cappuccino or any other milky type drink for the bar and they make their cup of espresso at home. The typical way to make an espresso at home Italian style is through ‘la macchina’ which is a small metal coffee maker used on the stove top. 
Above is a classic Bialetti macchina
L’Espresso
L’espresso is the most popular among the Italian population. Many Italians order an espresso all throughout the day. An espresso is like a shot of rich, strong coffee. Many Italians take it black or with sugar while some of the elderly ask for a splash of milk. Many bars offer one brand name of coffee such as LavAzza, Kimbo, or Illy and is advertised outside the bar. L’espresso is usually drank fast and can be accompanied with a cornetto or pasta (pastry). Additionally, many Italians take an espresso before going out at night. They usually take this after dinner with their shot of liquor (which helps with digestion).
Il Cappuccino
Il cappuccino is generally served only in the morning hours of the day and mostly ordered if you have time to sip for a while. Almost all the time Italians will order a cornetto or pasta to go along with their cappuccino. A cappuccino is one part espresso, one part steamed milk, and one part milk foam.
Il Macchiato
Il macchiato is similar to the cappuccino beverage but serve in a espresso cup. Il macchiato consists of one part espresso and one part foam milk. This would be perfect for someone who wants an espresso with a dash of milk to make it less strong.
Il Caffè Americano
Il Caffè Americano is the Italian interpretation of the way we make coffee and personally I enjoy an espresso way more. Il Caffè Americano is a shot of espresso along with boiling water to dilute the strong taste of espresso. This is perfect for someone who doesn’t like the strong taste of espresso and prefers a less rich coffee taste.
Il Caffè d’Orzo
Il Caffè d’Orzo translates to barley coffee. This drink originated in Italy, and is a ground barley drink made from roasted grains. Il Caffè d’Orzo is naturally caffeine-free so this would be an option for people who prefer caffeine-free drinks or for an after dinner drink before bed.
coste010 
One of my favorite topics Lauren! I love my coffee, but when I went to Europe it was definitely a big change. This post would have been helpful beforehand! Like a typical American, Europe’s weakened Caffe Americano was more to my liking than the espresso. However, my favorite while I was abroad was the cappuccino. Delish!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I found this post to be very interesting because with my travels abroad I have noticed the differences in the way other countries do coffee as well. Personally I like to have my morning coffee as big as they come and when I traveled to Paris and ordered a coffee, they handed my a tea cup half filled with coffee. Apparently the biggest coffee one can get is a cafe long, which is smaller than a tall at Starbucks. Interesting such simple things can be so different!
LikeLiked by 1 person