Coffee
There are coffee bars all over Rome, from luxurious cafès serving coffee along with the little cakes known as pasticcini, to the rough-and-ready kiosks in the larger metro stations.
Remember that if you sit down, your coffee will usually cost two or three times the price that it does at the bar. This isn't a scam, though; it's quite normal, and the cafe should have prices listed somewhere for both bar and table service.
Types of Coffee
Espresso
The espresso, a single shot of coffee served either in a small cup or in a glass ("in vietro"), is the staple of Roman coffee-drinking. It should be hot, thick, and very, very short. An espresso at the bar usually cost 75-85 cents.
Cappuccino
In Rome, the cappuccino is very much a morning coffee. Have it first thing in the morning with your cornetto, but don't ask for one after dinner in a restaurant—waiter and fellow diners alike will think you're crazy for wanting a heavy, milky drink on top of a full meal.
Americano
A long coffee. If you just ask for a coffee, you'll get an espresso, so ask for an americano if you want an American / British mug of coffee.
Caffè Corretto
One popular way of serving espresso is with a shot of alcohol, often grappa or Fernet Branca, stirred in. This is known as a caffè corretto (literally, a 'corrected coffee').
Recommended Cafes in Rome
Sant'Eustachio Il Caffè
Piazza Sant’Eustachio, 82
Tel. (+39) 06 6880 2048
www.santeustachioilcaffe.it
The selling point at Sant'Eustachio is the sugar they add to the coffee: rather than stir it in at the end, they add it during the brewing process—though the exact technique is shielded from view. You can also buy their own branded beans to take home—or get them from Amazon.com
