Harper West
Italy is known for its rich food culture, with mealtimes often involving elaborate dishes, wine, and dessert. However, breakfast is a different affair, and is typically the shortest meal of the day. A traditional Italian breakfast usually consists of a pastry, such as a cornetto (a type of croissant), paired with a cappuccino or espresso. Italians also enjoy milk and biscuits, yoghurt with fruit, or a simple bread and jam. While alcohol is not commonly consumed at breakfast, Italians may drink an aperitivo, or alcoholic beverage, before dinner.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time of the day Italians drink alcohol | Italians rarely drink wine or other alcoholic beverages without food. Aperitivo, which is a drink or two and some snacks before dinner, is equivalent to happy hour. |
| Coffee drinking habits | Italians drink espresso at any time of the day. Cappuccino is strictly for breakfast as drinking milk after a meal hampers digestion. |
| Breakfast | The quintessential breakfast is a cappuccino or espresso with a cornetto or other pastry, taken standing up at a bar. |
| Breakfast foods | Breakfast foods include thin slices of meat, eggs, and cheeses on bread. Cornetto, a type of croissant, is often filled with cream, custard, jam, or chocolate spread. Cereal with milk or yoghurt, and biscuits with milk are also common. |
| Breakfast duration | Breakfast is the shortest meal of the day. |
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What You'll Learn
Italians drink coffee with breakfast
Italians are well-known for their love of food and drink, and breakfast is no exception. In fact, two-thirds of Italians say they need a coffee to start their day. Breakfast is the shortest meal of the day, and it usually consists of a pastry and a coffee.
The quintessential Italian breakfast is a cappuccino or espresso with a cornetto, which is a type of croissant served plain or filled with jam, cream, or Nutella. This is typically eaten standing up at a bar. However, at home, Italians may also dunk their cornetto in their coffee, although this is considered a bit rude in public. Italians usually make their coffee at home using a moka pot or a coffee machine with pods.
In addition to cornetti, there are many other types of regional pastries that Italians enjoy for breakfast. For example, in Rome, you can find maritozzo, a soft bun split and filled with cream, while in Naples and the Amalfi Coast, you might try sfogliatella, a seashell-shaped pastry with orange-scented ricotta. If you're in Sicily, you might enjoy a brioche with granita.
While Italians typically drink espresso at any time of day, a cappuccino is reserved for breakfast. This is because drinking milk after a meal is believed to hinder digestion. If espresso is too strong, Italians might opt for a macchiato (espresso with a dollop of milk) or a caffè lungo (coffee with a larger ratio of water to espresso). During the summer, it's common to see Italians drinking caffè freddo (cold, sweetened espresso), caffè shakerato (similar to an espresso martini without the alcohol), or crema di caffè (a creamy, icy coffee drink).
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Alcohol is rarely drunk without food
In Italy, breakfast is the shortest meal of the day and rarely involves alcohol. The first meal of the day usually consists of a pastry, such as a cornetto (a croissant or brioche), or another type of bread, with coffee. The cornetto is often filled with cream, custard, jam, or chocolate spread.
Coffee is an integral part of the Italian breakfast. A cappuccino or espresso is the most common choice, often accompanied by a cornetto or another pastry. Italians also drink caffè macchiato (espresso with a dollop of milk), caffè lungo (coffee with a larger ratio of water to espresso), caffè Americano (similar to American-style drip coffee but made with espresso), caffè freddo (cold, sweetened espresso), caffè shakerato (similar to an espresso martini without the alcohol), and crema di caffè (a creamy, icy coffee drink).
On special occasions, such as Christmas, Italians indulge in a more elaborate breakfast. Traditional Italian Christmas breakfast items include pandoro, a sweet bread, or panettone and panforte, two types of fruit bread. Italians also break their fast on Easter with tempting foods and delicious coffee. Some enjoy savoury breads filled with eggs, meat, and cheese, while others prefer torta pasqualina, which contains egg, spinach, and ricotta.
While alcohol is not typically consumed at breakfast, Italians do enjoy a drink with meals at other times of the day. Aperitivo, or happy hour, is a pre-dinner drink, usually a cocktail or wine, served with snacks like peanuts or potato chips. However, it is rare to see Italians drinking wine or other alcoholic beverages without food.
Overall, Italians are known for their love of food and drink, and breakfast is no exception. While alcohol is not commonly consumed at breakfast, it is sometimes enjoyed at bars, which also serve sandwiches or small lunch dishes.
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Breakfast is the shortest meal of the day
The cornetto is often filled with cream, custard, jam, or chocolate spread, and is sometimes dunked in coffee. A cappuccino is a popular choice for breakfast, as it is a milky drink, and Italians tend to avoid drinking milk after a meal as it is believed to hamper digestion. However, espresso is also commonly consumed at breakfast and throughout the day. It is usually served as a single shot, drunk standing at a cafe bar.
Some Italians may opt for a savoury breakfast with meat, eggs, and cheese, but this is less common in households. Cereal with milk is also not a typical breakfast choice for adults, who tend to opt for yoghurt with fruit, dried fruit, honey, or yoghurt with a teaspoon of blueberry preserve.
Breakfast in Italy is always accompanied by a caffeine hit, with two-thirds of Italians saying they need coffee to start their day. It is a quick meal, often eaten at a bar, and is a simple, sweet, and traditional way to begin the day.
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Breakfast is eaten standing up at a bar
Breakfast in Italy is typically a quick meal, often eaten standing up at a bar. This is because many Italians will stop at a cafe on their way to work for a quick coffee and pastry. It is rare to see Italians drinking wine or other alcoholic beverages without food, and meals are seen as social activities, so it is uncommon to find alcohol served at breakfast time.
The quintessential Italian breakfast consists of a cappuccino or espresso with a cornetto (a type of pastry similar to a croissant, often filled with cream, custard, jam, or chocolate spread) or another type of pastry. This is usually accompanied by a coffee, with two-thirds of Italians saying they need a coffee to start the day. Espresso is the coffee of choice throughout the day, but breakfast is also an acceptable time to have a cappuccino.
If you're eating breakfast at home in Italy, you might have a rusk, a very crunchy slice of toast similar to a hard cookie, or a sweet bread like pandoro or panettone. You might also have a savoury breakfast with eggs, bacon, and toast, or American-style sweets like muffins and pancakes. It is also common to see Italians choosing soy milk, oat milk, or other alternatives to cow's milk with their breakfast cereal.
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Breakfast is accompanied by orange juice
Breakfast in Italy is often accompanied by a cup of coffee, typically an espresso or a cappuccino. However, orange juice is also a popular beverage of choice to start the day. A freshly squeezed glass of orange juice, or a spremuta d'arancia, is a common breakfast drink in Italy, especially when paired with a pastry or a cornetto, the Italian version of a croissant.
The cornetto is a traditional pastry from Wien, differing from the French croissant in shape and ingredients, such as eggs. It is often filled with cream, custard, jam, or chocolate spread. A homemade cornetto, made with less refined carbs and whole wheat flour, is considered healthier. Italians also enjoy dunking their cornetto in their coffee, although this is more commonly done at home than in public.
For those who prefer a more savoury breakfast, Italians also consume thin slices of meat, such as prosciutto, bresaola, or salami, alongside eggs and cheeses on bread. Cereal with milk is also an option, although it is more commonly eaten by children. Adults who opt for cereal usually pair it with yoghurt instead of milk.
While coffee and orange juice are the more typical breakfast beverages, Italians may also opt for tea, particularly green tea, to accompany their morning meal.
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Frequently asked questions
No, it is rare to see Italians drinking wine or other alcoholic beverages without food. Binge drinking is not a big part of Italian culture.
Italians typically drink coffee with breakfast. This could be an espresso, a cappuccino, or a caffè macchiato.
Italians often eat a pastry with their coffee for breakfast. This could be a cornetto (a type of croissant), a brioche, or a bombolone alla crema (a cream-filled, sugar-dusted pastry). Some Italians also eat biscuits, cereal, or yoghurt with fruit for breakfast.
Italians often eat breakfast standing up at a bar.
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