Tourists From The US Need To Know This Crucial Coffee Etiquette Rule Before Visiting Italy

The Italian caffè is the definition of cool. This is a place to meet with friends, converse for long periods, and pose in your trendiest outfit. Also known as a "coffee bar," the cafè is a common meeting point, a home away from home, and for many, a daytime singles club. Many cafè owners take advantage of the temperate Mediterranean climate and set out bistro tables on the street; here you can mingle in the open air, sip from porcelain cups, and watch the flow of traffic. Cafès play to many cultural strengths in Italy: hospitality, socializing, and gourmet food and drink.

There's one thing you don't do in Italian cafès: order a coffee to go. This isn't just a faux pas; the request may not even compute. Unless you visit an international coffee chain, baristas will balk at the idea of cardboard cups and plastic tops. How could anyone possibly enjoy an expertly brewed cup of java while tromping down the street, never mind while driving a car to work? Why would customers deprive themselves of this vital joy? There's a reason Starbucks has only 30 or so locations in the entire nation, about the same number as in Brooklyn, New York: This kind of coffee consumption is antithetical to Italian culture. If you want to drink coffee like a true Italian local, you have to start by planning to sit down.

Keep in mind, Italians have had plenty of time to cultivate their caffeine habit. The first commercial cafè started pouring in Venice in 1683, and these institutions were popular hangouts for artists and philosophers by the time the United States became an official country. Italian inventor Luigi Bezzera patented the espresso machine in 1901, and the rest is history; espresso is now a fixture in cafès from Milan to Palermo. While Americans often think of espresso as "shots," consuming the whole batch in a single gulp, Italians routinely nurse tiny cups for long periods, stirring the dark liquid with dwarfish spoons and gingerly sipping now and again. Sugar and cream are also less common; tourists shouldn't expect to find these popular coffee additions in Italy.

Strange as it may seem to American tourists, you may have to budget extra time to enjoy some morning joe. Portions will feel smaller, and you'll end up sitting down with a proper cup, saucer, and napkin instead of disposal cardboard and plastic. But this is a pleasurable way to acclimate to the rhythm of Italian life and embrace the new environment. While you're learning local ways, avoid making this embarrassing cappuccino mistake while visiting Italy.