Caffe: The Basics

Coffee is a huge part of life in Italy. Cafe’s are on every street corner and everyone starts their day off at their preferred cafe. We quickly got into the routine of a morning caffe and an occasional pasta (pastry). The beauty of the caffe atmosphere is that it is quick and cheap. Forget about spending $10 at Starbucks in one trip! We tried a few different caffes, finally finding our favorite: Caffe Fiorella, right off the Campo. Despite it’s touristy location, Caffe Fiorella was always filled with locals, the prices were great, and they served the best caffe in all of Siena. Next time you are in Siena, check out Caffe Fiorella, you won’t be disappointed!

Types of Coffee:
Caffe (espresso): a small cup of very strong coffee, i.e. espresso
Caffe Americano: American style coffee, but stronger; weaker than espresso and served in a large cup
Caffe corretto: coffee “corrected” with a shot of grappa, cognac, or other spirit
Caffe doppio: double espresso
Caffe freddo: iced coffee
Caffe hag: decaffinated coffee
Caffe latte: hot milk mixed with coffee and served in a glass for breakfast
Caffe macchiato: espresso “stained” with a drop of milk; small version of a cappuccino
Caffe Marocchino: espresso with a dash of hot milk and cacao powder
Caffe stretto: espresso with less water; rocket fuel!
Cappuccino: espresso infused with steamed milk and drunk in the morning, but never at lunch of dinner!
Granita di caffe con panna: frozen, iced beverage topped with whipped cream

During these hot summer days, a nice cold coffee is always a good idea:

Caffe Freddo Recipe (Courtesy of Bleeding Espresso):
Make a large pot of espresso or other coffee of your liking. After the coffee is done, add sugar, stir completely, and let cool. Refrigerate for a few hours or over night. After the espresso has cooled completely, add ice cubes and milk to the cold, sweetened coffee. Yum! Do not drink this before bed time!