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“I’ll have a coffee thanks” is a question heard regularly throughout the day in France. But what you receive when you ask this question varies noticeably depending on where you are. However if you are travelling through France, Italy or the rest of Europe, such a question will result in you being served a small espresso coffee – a short black!

Now I love an espresso coffee, but in Australia and New Zealand where I come from, such a drink is more of a novelty, and anyone drinking such a coffee will be looked at sideways! But in Europe this coffee is an important part of daily life.  Take a look at this coffee above which I recently came across in Italy – an espresso coffee in a chocolate dipped wafer cup. Mmmm! Bliss, yes!?

Coffee in Europe is very much part of the daily ritual! It provides a moment to catch up with friends, or just a moment to think!

As well, try leaving a restaurant without having a coffee at the end of your meal. “Are you sure you won’t have a coffee?” the waiter asks,  translates to “another bloody crazy  tourist!”.

The Europeans regard Coffee (ie short black espresso) as being used mainly to help digestion and to finish off a meal, and therefore at lunch or dinner it is ordered after the meal has been consumed. If you were to order a cappuccino to go with your spaghetti carbonara, expect a nasty look…from everyone.

To help you ordering your next coffee in France remember these words and translations to make sure you get what you want:

Espresso (short, black!): Café (pronounced car-fay)

Long Black: Café Americain (car-fay ameri-carn) or Allongé (allon – jay)

Milky Coffee:  Un crème  ( craime), or just Café au lait (car-fay o lay)

When ordering your coffee remember also that if you sit outside on the terrace of a café the price will be different than if you just stand at the bar.

Enjoy!