L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2025 www.italoamericano.org 12 L'Italo-Americano I t a l i a n b a r s a r e n o t bars in the American sense: they're not for c o c k t a i l s ( u n l e s s you're having aperiti- vo, of course), and ordering a martini at 10 a.m. will earn you a look usually reserved for people who cut in line at the bakery. Italian bars are more like the fast-beating h e a r t o f d a i l y l i f e , w h e r e espresso is fuel, the barista knows your name, and every phrase carries a secret code only locals fully understand. Let's explore some of them together! S c o n t r i n o p r i m a , p e r favore! T r a n s l a t i o n : " R e c e i p t first, please" Meaning: you have just t r i e d t o o r d e r y o u r c o f f e e without first paying at the reg- ister. What a rookie mistake! Many Italian bars, especially in busy city centers, operate on a strict "pay first, drink later" model: you head to the cashier, tell them what you want, they give you a receipt (scontrino), and only then are you allowed to present your- self at the bar and wave that little piece of paper like a golden ticket. If you attempt to reverse the order, the barista will gen- t l y – b u t f i r m l y – g e s t u r e toward the cassa with the same expression they'd use for a child who forgot their homework. Bonus points if they sigh while doing it, but don't get upset, it's not per- sonal, it's procedure. Except in smaller towns, where rules are often reversed, ignored, or e n f o r c e d d e p e n d i n g o n whether the barista's cousin works at the till that day. 2. Fammi un cappuccino chiaro Translation: "Make me a light cappuccino" Meaning: you are about to w i t n e s s c a p p u c c i n o c u s - tomization in action: a cap- puccino chiaro contains less espresso and more milk than the standard version, and it's the sort of drink ordered by someone who's still pretend- i n g t h e y d i d n ' t j u s t w a n t warm milk with a hint of caf- feine. T h e v a r i a t i o n s o n t h i s theme are endless: cappucci- no scuro (darker), cappucci- no tiepido (lukewarm), cap- p u c c i n o c o n c a c a o ( w i t h cocoa powder), decaffeinato (decaf), or even con latte di soia (soy milk). The barista, trained in the ancient art of foam management, will nod gravely, then execute a mas- terful swirl of steam, espres- so, and patience. O r d e r i n g a c a p p u c c i n o after 11 a.m., of course, is still considered an act of mild rebellion. You might get a subtle eyebrow raise, but no one will say anything. They'll just silently question your digestive system. 3. Fammi un caffè nor- male Translation: "Give me a regular coffee" Meaning: this request is anything but straightforward. In Italy, a "normal coffee" typically means a single shot of espresso, but say this to the wrong barista in the wrong region and you may enter a philosophical debate about what "normal" really means. If you're American, you may think you're asking for filter coffee, and the barista may interpret your wide-eyed confusion as jet lag. If you w a n t s o m e t h i n g c l o s e r t o American-style drip, try ask- i n g f o r a c a f f è l u n g o (although this can also mean just filling up your tazzina) or a caffè americano, though the latter will still arrive in a s m a l l c u p w i t h a s h o t o f espresso and a separate small jug of boiling water. Italians have mastered many things, but they remain suspicious of anything resembling a tall paper cup of vaguely brown liquid. 4. Mi fai un marocchino? Translation: "Can I have a marocchino?" Meaning: you are now in t h e r e a l m o f m i n i i n d u l - gences: the marocchino is a small but elegant combina- tion of espresso, frothed milk, and a dusting of cocoa pow- der, usually served in a glass rather than a ceramic cup. It's a sort of espresso macchiato that puts on a nice jacket. P o p u l a r e s p e c i a l l y i n northern cities like Milan and T u r i n , t h e m a r o c c h i n o i s ordered by people who want something more luxurious than a plain espresso, but less milky than a cappuccino. It has a reputation for being stylish, sweet, and just a bit extra. Like ordering a tiny dessert that also wakes you up. 5. "C'è un caffè sospeso?" Translation: "Is there a suspended coffee?" M e a n i n g : y o u ' r e n o w entering southern Italian ter- ritory, where tradition and generosity go hand in hand . The caffè sospeso is a practice born in Naples in the early 20th century. A customer pays for two coffees: one for themselves, and one "sus- pended," to be given later to someone who cannot afford it. It's an anonymous act of kindness, a gesture that turns coffee into a small social safe- ty net. Some bars display a note or a blackboard indicating how many coffees are sus- pended that day; others sim- ply hand one over quietly when someone asks. While the practice has waned over time, it never disappeared completely, and it has seen a revival in recent years, espe- cially during times of eco- nomic strain. Ordering or offering a caffè sospeso is generous, but also part of a local ethic of dignity and soli- darity. Of course, there are many other uniquely Italian bar codes. Asking for your coffee al vetro means you prefer it in a glass rather than a cup, while ordering it al banco sig- nals that you'll drink it stand- ing at the counter, which is both faster and cheaper. Sit- ting at a table might increase t h e p r i c e a n d c h a n g e t h e whole ritual. As many of you know, even the bar itself is more than a place to caffeinate in Italy; it's where people stop three times a day to reset their internal clocks, meet friends, run into neighbors, exchange gossip, flirt, negotiate work deals, or just enjoy two minutes of silence under the soft hum of the espresso machine. The barista is part craftsman, part confidant, and part traffic controller. Regulars get their c o f f e e m a d e b e f o r e t h e y s p e a k , t o u r i s t s l e a r n b y watching the choreography: pay, place receipt, step aside, return when called. I t a l i a n b a r s r u n o n r h y t h m : y o u d o n ' t l i n g e r unless you have a reason, you don't chitchat unless invited, and you certainly don't ask for a pumpkin spice anything. But once you learn the rules and the lingo, you begin to appreciate the understated complexity of it all. One short sentence – fammi un caffè normale – can mean five dif- ferent things, depending on the tone, time, and town. If you're lucky, you'll find your own spot, where they know how you like it before you say a word. And when that day comes, you'll know you've graduated from con- fused outsider to semi-local, one espresso at a time! FRANCESCA BEZZONE Sitting at a "bar" in Italy: how familiar are you with all the jargon? (Photo: Shutterstock) Five things you only hear in Italian bars (and what they really mean) LA VITA ITALIANA TRADITIONS HISTORY CULTURE

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