Order cappuccino, latte, or other milk-based coffee only in the morning, Italians largely stop by late morning, well before lunch.
After any meal, order an espresso instead. No one will stop you from ordering a cappuccino at 4pm, but expect it to register as a small tell that you’re not local.
A few more coffee-bar habits that separate locals from tourists:
- Caffè macchiato is the loophole — espresso “marked” with a small splash of milk, it’s light enough to order any time of day, unlike a full cappuccino.
- Drink standing at the counter (banco), not seated at a table, if you want the normal price; sitting down, especially with table service, usually costs more.
- Don’t ask for a size — there’s no small/medium/large system here; a caffè is a caffè, and asking for a “grande” will just get you a confused look.