Gillian Knows Best guide to coffee in Rome

☕️10 addresses for a zippy espresso or a place to linger over a cappuccino

My morning cup of coffee is non-negotiable. I drink an enormous cup of French press that Mark makes and brings to me to every morning. This is the real secret to a very happy 30 + years of marriage. For every cup after that I head to the bar.

In Rome, each bar has a distinct personality and purpose. Some are for quick stops and strong espresso and others for lingering and leisurely chats with friends over a morning cappuccino or an afternoon macchiato (or two.) There are historic and grand cafes and scruffy neighborhood ones and increasingly, modern trendy ones too.

A quick recap of the general way things work is that you pay for your coffee at the cashier and then take that receipt to the bar and have your coffee quickly and standing up. If you prefer to sit down and take your time there is usually table service and an additional charge. In the morning I get a cappuccino (I don’t love a lot of milk so l occasionally ask for it senza schiuma, without foam.) In the afternoon I usually get a macchiato, an espresso with a splash of milk. There are a lot of rituals and rules surrounding coffee in Rome. Don’t stress out about it. It’s your vacation. Drink what you want when you want, just preferably not a cappuccino with your carbonara please. My pal Romewise explains it all here.

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