The way to start your day in Italy is not necessarily a bowl of cereal or a hearty dish of scrambled eggs and bacon—it’s via a cappuccino made from one of Lavazza’s aromatic blends.
Part of the fun of traveling in Italy, or any foreign country for that matter, is communicating, and what better way to start than with mastering the correct lingo for this frothy espresso-based beverage?
There are thousands of cafés in Italy, so keep an eye out for one with the distinct blue and white Lavazza logo, an indication that you’ll be sipping the best of what Italy has to offer.
If you enter during the morning rush, the café will be abuzz as locals crowd around the counter for theirs. Pay first (whatever you do, don’t ask for one “to go”), then line up behind the counter with your receipt and show it to the barista when it’s your turn—be prepared to shout over the din.
The barista will also ask if you want cannella o cacao (cinnamon or cocoa powder) on top. You can either say “si” and specify which, or niente grazie (nothing, thanks) if you prefer yours plain.
Don’t ask for sugar—you add that yourself from the caddy on the counter—and don’t linger, either. Finish your drink quickly to make way for the next customer. So, you’ve probably heard many times over that Italians drink a cappuccino in the morning only and that most places won’t make one for you after 11:00 a.m —however, this isn’t 100% true. Italians usually take lunch at 1:00 p.m., so any hour before lunch is fine.
And to be honest, Italians know foreigners drink cappuccinos any time of the day in other countries, so if you want one after lunch or dinner, just ask for it—you have nothing to lose. If denied, just have a macchiato instead. Or, if you have a coffee maker at your disposal in your accommodations, you can pick up Lavazza’s Caffe’ Espresso blend and make one for yourself at any time of the day.
Local tip: If you really want to sound like you have a strong grasp of Italian, when you’re ordering, ask for “un cappuccio” (short for cappuccino).