how to order the coffee I want in Italy.

Clementine,
You may be interested in reading this recent post about ordering coffee in Italy.

Have a wonderful trip!

This should probably have been posted in the Italy section, not reviews, but..

You aren't likely to find half and half in Italy outside a Starbucks or a hotel breakfast buffet. In my experience they use milk.
A cafe macchiato or macchiato caldo should have very little foam. Just espresso and a little milk or steamed milk. Any small amount of foam should disappear with stirring.

As CJean said, machiatto doesn't have any foam, it's an espresso with a little splash of milk. The only thing is it's small.
I would suggest you try this, maybe a cappuccino, and see whàt you like, even if it's not the same as what you take at home... Maybe you'll find a new favourite!

There are a couple other threads on this topic, one recently that had a link to ordering,but it may not answer your question.

First, if you head into a popular coffee bar, you will be intimidated unless you want "una caffe" and get a quick espresso. Go to a smaller place, if they handle English OK, maybe a better chance.

I suppose starting with a Caffe Americano would be OK, but Half and Half and Cream seem not to be readily available. You could get a glass of hot milk to mix, maybe the equivalent of a Caffe Latte, in fact I recall many Hotels having an urn of strong coffee alongside an urn of hot whole milk... so close to what you want.

In the end, I think you probably want a Caffe Latte, start with that. Many will come on and caution you...DO NOT ORDER A LATTE!!! They are picking up on an Urban Legend where you will get a cold glass of milk, but order in a coffee shop, that will not happen. They are smart enough to know what you want...hey they serve coffee, but yes, say Caffe Latte.

Otherwise, you could order an Americano and a hot milk; you could try ordering Crema, but that could be clotted cream, Sour Cream, or a young cheese,but again they have an idea of what people want in coffee.

Thank you everyone. I knew I would get some helpful information. I have printed the blog and thank Paul for the coffee bar info. At least someone will know what I am looking for when I order.

I appreciate the tips.
Clementine

Italy, the land where coffee is an art form, if you ask for a caffe americano you will get a regular sized cup of coffee, and the milk will be heated in a little jug on the side,but instead really experience the most delicious coffee in the world by starting your morning with a cappuccino, the foam is not too much and rather creamy in construction, then as you wander through you day stop for a macchiato, a teeny cup of espresso with just a teaspoon of foam on top (the stain as they say) they may look you in the eye and confirm you want an espresso machiatto as some tourist don’t realize what a true one is, order it at the bar “Banco” and you will only pay a euro usually, then energized for the day you can go forever, enjoy every cup on your Italian vacation!

Time for a little experimentation -- maybe !! Thirty-eight years ago I could have posted the same question. Were in Italy for the first time and hitting a very local coffee shop daily and drinking Cafe Americano. I had come off active duty a few years earlier so my coffee standards were well formed by army coffee - especially out of a tin cup. (Each morning was the same -- hot, strong, and I am still alive.) Third morning we were in this little coffee shop when the owner in very bad English chastised us - in a friendly manner - about drinking real coffee instead of a watered down substitute. Had our first espresso -- never looked back. Now on our second, high-end, home espresso machine with the perpetual search for the perfect espresso roasted bean. Have spent a lot of money on coffee over the years but worth every penny. Experiment with the local coffee variations. You might fine something that is better.

I don't recall getting milk of any kind when ordering a café Americano in Italy. It was a larger cup with espresso in it and a glass of hot water to mix in myself.

And as others have said, a macchiato should not be too foamy, no matter what Starbucks says, :-)

I noticed the milk I got with my coffees in Italy, when I order those types of drinks, seem thicker and creamier than whole milk in the US so didn't miss the half and half.

Great information, and Frank, I loved the story. The best coffee I ever tasted was is Istanbul and it was a true Turkish coffee with a dash of sugar. It was heaven. Let's see if I can replace that memory with some of everyone's ideas.

Clementine

There was a cafe just downstairs from where I stayed last in Rome--it was in Prati--and for an extra .10 they'd artfully coat the inside of your espresso cup with warm chocolate before adding the shot. Best 10 cents I've ever spent.

First, no half and half in Italy. And I've never seen cream with coffee.

You might ask for a cafe lungo macchiato. Unlike an Americano where hot water is added to the coffee, a lungo is where more water is run through the coffee grounds. The macchiato adds a splash of milk.

Don't expect a large coffee unless you order a cappuccino. They just don't do large strong coffee.

coated with chocolate - wow. And I think the cafe lungo macchiatto will be the answer. Thank you so much. I will sound less like a tourist and more like a travel veteran. Thanks to all.
Clementine

U will be amazed by the itaian baristas, they are patient, kind and realize how special an expresso etc are. I have many wonderful stories of grown men that are baristas that have been wonderful as I travel.
No i am not a 30 or 40 yr old, just a happy senior tourist that enjoys her machiatto double in the morning. Belly up to the cafe bar and order so fun and efficient. Have not seen anything like here in California at least. Do not be embarrased they are happy and proud of their work and to serve u.
English is widely understood. And it is never served in a paper cup, thank goodness .
Give it a go.