Think twice about placing your order after 11am (Image: Reach PLC)
For many coffee drinkers, the day doesn’t properly begin until they’ve had their first caffeine fix.
But when you’re on holiday, routines often go out of the window. You might wake up later than usual, enjoy a leisurely breakfast or fancy a cappuccino with lunch.
However, in Italy, that simple order could earn you a puzzled look.
While visiting Tremosine sul Garda, a collection of villages on the western shores of Lake Garda that’s officially recognised as one of Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages, I was surprised to learn that locals consider ordering a cappuccino after around 11am to be something of a tourist giveaway.
Speaking about the custom, a woman who grew up in Pieve, the largest village in Tremosine, explained that Italians traditionally see a cappuccino as a breakfast drink.
Italians consider a cappuccino to be a breakfast drink (Image: Paige Freshwater)
Instead, after lunch or dinner, it’s far more common to finish a meal with a shot of espresso before paying the bill and heading on with your day.
She added that you’re more likely to get away with ordering a cappuccino in Italy’s busier tourist hotspots, where cafés are used to international visitors.
But in quieter mountain villages like Tremosine – where only around 200 people live in Pieve – don’t be surprised if your order is met with a raised eyebrow or an amused smile.
The modern cappuccino has its roots in the Viennese drink kapuziner, which became popular in 17th-century coffee houses and was traditionally made with coffee, cream, sugar and spices.
The cappuccino as we know it today first appeared in northern Italy, although it wasn’t until the 20th century, when steamed milk became widely used, that it evolved into the drink now served around the world.
Travel experts at Walks of Italy explain: “Don’t order a cappuccino in Italy after noon… if you want to ‘fit in’ in Italy, that is. Especially at local cafes that aren’t used to tourists, you might just get a very funny look.
Pieve is the largest village in Tremosine sul Garda (Image: Paige Freshwater)
“Italians have a thing about drinking cappuccino after noon. Some say it’s because the milk and foam make it more like a meal, while others believe dairy isn’t good for digestion after lunch. You’ll never see an Italian ordering a cappuccino after dinner.”
However, not every Italian agrees with the so-called rule.
One Reddit user said: “I’m Italian and heard about this ‘no cappuccino after lunch’ rule from international friends and I was baffled. One of my favourite childhood snacks was a cappuccino and a pastry.
“My grandparents were actually the ones who started the tradition. They’d pick me up from school, we’d go to a café for a cappuccino and a pastry, then head to the park. Plenty of other children were doing exactly the same thing.”
Another added: “They’re not going to tell you no if you ask for a cappuccino. My American mother-in-law wanted an iced latte and I got her one without any issues. Just don’t expect them to be particularly enthusiastic about it.”
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