Ciao a tutti! Every student I teach Italian wants to know how to order their favourite coffee in Italy, the variety is long and different from what you get in the coffee shop chains in the UK like: Costa Coffee or Starbucks.
FREE Italian lesson: Ordering hot drinks in Italian:
Italians generally don’t drink coffee with any meal except breakfast. Coffee is often ordered after a meal, and—che vergogna!—only the unwitting tourist will order a cappuccino in a restaurant after lunch or dinner. When ordering an after-dinner coffee, do not ask for an espresso, ask for “un caffè, per favore.”
Italian Vocabulary List: Coffee
- caffè (espresso)—a small cup of very strong coffee, i.e., espresso
- caffè Americano—American-style coffee, but stronger; weaker than espresso and served in a large cup
- caffè corretto—coffee “corrected” with a shot of grappa, cognac, or other spirit
- caffè doppio—double espresso
- caffè freddo—iced coffee
- caffè Hag—decaffeinated coffee
- caffè latte—hot milk mixed with coffee and served in a glass for breakfast
- caffè macchiato—espresso “stained” with a drop of steamed milk: small version of a cappuccino
- caffè marocchino—espresso with a dash of hot milk and cacao powder
- caffè stretto—espresso with less water; rocket fuel!
- cappuccino—espresso infused with steamed milk and drunk in the morning, but never after lunch or dinner
- granita di caffè con panna—frozen, iced beverage (similar to a slush, but ice shavings make it authentic) and topped with whipped cream
| Italian | English |
| Per favore | Please |
| Prego? | Yes, please? |
| un caffè macchiato | a coffee with a dash of milk |
| un latte macchiato | a glass of milk with a dash of coffee |
| Un cappuccino, per favore | A cappuccino, please. |
| Preferisce…? | Do you prefer…? formal |
| Un succo di frutta alla pesca | A peach fruit juice |
| Una spremuta d’arancia | A freshly squeezed orange juice |
| Sono dodici euro e trentanove | It’s 12.39 euros |
| Offro io | I’ll pay |
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About Learn Italian Manchester: My name is Amedea and I’m a native Italian tutor with a real passion for my language. I run Italian classes in Manchester which are sociable, fun and designed to teach you Italian you will really use. As well as Italian courses in Manchester I teach 1 to 1 Italian lessons and cover areas including Didsbury, Chorlton, Sale, Altrincham, Hale, Woodford, Bramhall and others. If you would like to do something new, learn to speak Italian and make new friends along the way! Contact me at: hello@learnitalianmanchester.co.uk