01 / 08
The everyday coffee
Un caffè, per favore.
oon kaf-FEH pehr fah-VOH-reh
A coffee, please.
Un espresso.
An espresso.
In an Italian bar, un caffè usually means an espresso. You do not need to ask for a small coffee.
02 / 08
Milk and coffee
Un cappuccino.
oon kap-poot-CHEE-noh
A cappuccino.
Un macchiato.
oon mak-KYAH-toh
A macchiato.
A cappuccino has espresso, hot milk and foam. A caffè macchiato is an espresso with a little milk.
03 / 08
More milk
Un latte macchiato.
oon LAT-teh mak-KYAH-toh
A latte macchiato.
A latte macchiato is mainly milk with espresso added. Latte on its own means milk, so it will not reliably get you a coffee.
04 / 08
A softer request
Vorrei un cappuccino.
vor-RAY oon kap-poot-CHEE-noh
I’d like a cappuccino.
Vorrei makes an order polite without being elaborate. Hold the double f in caffè slightly longer.
05 / 08
Another useful pattern
Posso avere un bicchiere d’acqua?
POS-soh ah-VEH-reh oon beek-KYEH-reh DAK-kwah
Could I have a glass of water?
Un’acqua, per favore.
A water, please.
Posso avere works for something you would like someone to bring or give you.
06 / 08
Choose your water
Naturale o frizzante?
Still or sparkling?
Naturale, grazie.
Still, thanks.
You may hear naturale or frizzante. Un’acqua has an apostrophe because acqua is feminine and starts with a vowel.
07 / 08
At the counter
Devo pagare prima?
Do I need to pay first?
Un caffè, per favore. — Certo.
A coffee, please. — Of course.
Some bars ask you to pay first; others after your coffee. Table service can have different prices. Follow the signs or ask briefly.
Remember this
Takeaway
Vorrei un macchiato e un’acqua naturale.
I’d like a macchiato and a still water.
Choose the drink, add a polite request, then specify water if you want it. You do not need a long sentence.