caffè
/kafˈfɛ/masculine
The English word 'coffee' is translated into Italian as caffè.
caffè refers to the beverage. In an Italian bar, however, it almost exclusively implies a single espresso unless specified otherwise. Using the phrase un caffè is the standard way to order a single shot of espresso at a bar.
Meaning: beverage (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Piedmont region, you may encounter Marocchino, which is a drink consisting of an espresso shot, cocoa powder and a touch of frothy milk.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/kafˈfɛ/
Did you know?
- The phrase caffè sospeso means 'suspended coffee', a Neapolitan tradition where a customer pays for two coffees but takes only one, leaving the second for a stranger in need.
- To enjoy a 'caffè corretto', you are literally asking for your coffee to be 'corrected' by adding a splash of liquor, usually grappa.
- The word caffè has an ancestral connection to the Arabic word 'qahwa', which originally referred to a type of wine or a stimulant before it became associated with the bean.
Examples in context
- È tè o caffè?Is that tea or coffee?Tatoeba #13077069 by Guybrush88, translation #12964629 by sundown
- È il mio caffè?Is that my coffee?Tatoeba #5898547 by Guybrush88, translation #2648506 by CK
- Un po' di caffè?A bit of coffee?Tatoeba #389998 by Pharamp, translation #9668378 by DJ_Saidez
- Vorrei un caffè espresso, per favore.I would like an espresso, please.
- Prendiamo due caffettini e un marocchino.Let's have two small cups of coffee and one marocchino.
- 2326 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alessandro and Chiara are meeting at a cafe.
- AlessandroVuoi un caffè, Chiara?Do you want a coffee, Chiara?
- ChiaraSì, grazie, prendo un caffè.Yes, thanks, I'll have a coffee.
- AlessandroLo prendi con lo zucchero?Do you take it with sugar?
- ChiaraNo, preferisco il caffè amaro.No, I prefer black coffee.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “coffee” translations and entries caffè, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries caffè, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
