Searching for Italy's perfect cup

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Evelyn Chavez
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  If I had to describe coffee in one word it would be...amazing! Luckily for me, I live in Italy where drinking coffee is an experience in and of itself.

Recently, I realized how little I knew about coffee in Italy so I decided to visit a local coffee shop to learn and share a few things about the culture of drinking coffee here as opposed to in the U.S.

First and foremost, l will start with a few tips. A bar in Italy is what a cafe' would be in the U.S. so don't be troubled if you see a family hanging out at the "bar" sipping on a drink.

Paying for coffee first isn't always a must. In certain places you may enjoy your brew at the bar or sit and relax and wait to pay on the way out. At others, you may have to pay at the bar first, give the receipt to the barista and get your drink afterward.

Another thing to remember is that drinks are usually more expensive if you have them while sitting versus standing at the bar. Now that we have established these steps to enjoying the perfect cup, I can talk about my favorite drink, coffee.

There are endless varieties of coffee that you can order, however, the most typical types of drinks are cappuccino, caffe' and macchiato. These drinks do not come in small, medium, large and extra large sizes like you may be used to at your local coffee shop. Rather, they are normally poured into a set cup size, between 2- 4 ounces.

The cappuccino, usually served for breakfast, is popular to tourists as it is the closest to a regular cup of coffee in the U.S. This drink is equal parts espresso and frothed milk.

Then we have the caffe', or espresso, which is brewed by forcing hot water under high pressure through fine grounds in order to get a stronger taste. This drink is served in a smaller, shot-sized, 2 ounce cup.

The last, most popular, drink is the macchiato, an espresso "stained" with a teaspoon of frothed milk. Also at about two ounces, this drink is nothing similar to the 20 ounces of flavored macchiato served in the America.

But if these drinks aren't for you, then perhaps you would like to try the following:

Caffe' Americano- espresso served in a larger cup with water on the side.

Caffe' doppio- double espresso

Caffe' latte- hot milk mixed with coffee, usually served in a tall glass

Caffe' shakerato- espresso, sugar and ice shaken with foam at the top

Caffe' lungo- a stronger, and long espresso

Caffe'corretto- espresso mixed with liquor, usually grappa

Caffe' decaffeinato- decaffeinated coffee (not very popular in Italy)

Because of the stronger taste of coffee, Italians recommend a glass of water on the side. Also, don't forget you can always add sugar as well, as it is typically placed on the tables or handed out when you order your drink.

The coffee in Italy is definitely not the sugar-laden kind you would find in the states such as caramel, vanilla, hazelnut or white chocolate, but with time you just might find your perfect cup and become an Italian coffee aficionado like me. As the temperature starts to fall, there's no better time to fill up on your favorite cup of coffee in one of the few countries that consider it as more than just a drink- but a lifestyle.