Asking for a cappuccino at the Italian bar is easy. There are no misunderstandings.
Instead, asking for a coffee, and getting exactly what you want, without misunderstandings, is a little less simple.
When you ask for “a coffee”, generally you mean “an espresso”, which is served in the classic small cup.
But the espresso can also become “un caffè ristretto” (with a little less water, and therefore stronger), “un caffè lungo” (with more water) or “macchiato” (with a drop of milk, hot or cold) from which derive the “macchiato caldo” and the “macchiato freddo”.
Espresso and macchiato are always served in small cups, the tipical Italian cups for coffee (la tazzina).
Those who take the “caffè americano” instead have their coffee with plenty of water, in a large cup.
Medium cup, or little glass, for the Marocchino, a mini cappuccino with cocoa that has had great success in recent years.
