Diane Mac,<BR>For a regular cup of coffee with milk you ask "un grand cr&egrave;me" (or grand caf&eacute; cr&egrave;me).

What do you ask for if you just want a regular black cup of coffee? No condiments, no expresso.

Just be careful they don't slip you any of that awful powdered "instant" junk. And black coffee is just what you would expect: cafe noir. Just ask for "un noir."

Dear Di,<BR> I understand the "I gotta have my coffee right" thing...Me too. You must however, be able to pronounce it. The word is "eSpresso, not eXpresso. Darling Rex from whom I have learned so much, did not even correct you. He must not be feeling well.<BR>Have a great trip,<BR>Sidley

Myriam,<BR><BR><BR>Nope. "Un grand creme" would actually be a double expresso, served in a larger cup. but my understanding is that the OP wants to drink something less strong than an expresso...

I meant un grand creme would be a double expresso *with milk*

&lt;&lt;I get in a bad mood if I don't get my coffee the way I want it!&gt;&gt;<BR><BR>Here is the real problem.<BR><BR>Europe is not for you.<BR>

Normally, when you ask for "un grand cr&egrave;me" you will indeed get a double expresso, in a large cup, filled up with hot milk, sometimes with an extra pot of milk aside. In Belgium we call this a "lait russe" which is the same than half and half.<BR>

Where in the US does anyone order decaffeinated coffee and say UNLEADED? Seems utterly ridiculous to me and that most say decaf or decaffeinated. I've even heard half decaf/half caffeine, but never have I heard anyone call decaffeinated coffee ordered as UNLEADED.<BR><BR>Obviously its another stupid comment from the president of the Pompous Ass Club.<BR><BR>Couldn't you order the coffee with cream, as cafe avec creme -- just be careful that you don't get Viennese coffee which would be with real whipped cream? Cafe avec lait, would be coffee with milk. Also, if you order cafe grande avec creme or cafe avec lait, you will get a tall cup (regular size, not espresso) of coffee with cream or milk.<BR><BR>

One of my traveling companions was in the same fix as Diane. It is difficult to get regular coffee in France and Italy. Fortunately for me, I prefer espresso drinks. You can try ordering "American Coffee". I don't know how you say it correctly in French, in Italian it is cafe americano. What you get is espresso with hot water added to weaken it. Good luck.

Diane, this is my understanding. Caf&eacute; au lait is for breakfast only. Hotels will serve black coffee (it doesn't seem as strong as espesso but it is very stout) and the heated milk to go with it. It is usually very good. Later, if the weather is chilly, we might take a caf&eacute; break and I will ask for the caf&eacute; creme - again, it is as above, a cup of coffee with milk/creme mixed in, maybe a nice bit of swirl/froth in the cup. It is DELICIOUS. It is not really a European custom to drink coffee with milk later in the day, but they will humor you just fine. I don't think caf&eacute; creme tastes like espresso (it may be) but I do think it tastes good. You may find you have developed a whole different standard for coffee after visiting France/Italy, and then your challenge will be matching it back in the States (it won't be easy!). Our creature comforts do 'color' our travel experiences, but this particular one will not be a disappointment.

Coffee Drinker:<BR>I'm not here to stand up for Rex, but you are the one who sounds like the IGNORANT pompous ass.<BR>Unleaded coffee is slang, you don't necessarily order it that way, but you can refer to it as such...unless of course you're ignorant of colloquialisms .

Thank you David -- tried to post a similar comment, however crashed. <BR><BR>BTW Coffee Drinker, it's "cafe creme" or "cafe au lait" -- you do not use "avec". And "chantilly" is whipped cream -- you won't get that in your coffee. <BR> <BR>I'll refrain from making any other comments (He don't like ugly) but my tongue is bleeding I'm biting it so hard...

Actually, coffee drinker is right about the "cafe viennois". It's indeed a coffee with chantilly/whipped cream. It's not served everywhere, but some cafes with a large choice will offer it. Similarily, the "chocolat viennois" is a cup of chocolate with whipped cream.<BR><BR><BR>(however, sometimes, especially in little restaurants, a "cafe/chocolat viennois" is actually an industrial ice-cream. So, make sure to check before if you want to order that)

Dear Diane,<BR> In an effort to avoid your bad moo,try this; half and half is available in an uht, utra high pasteurized product, get some and bring it with you. The expiration dates are good for months without refrigeration.<BR> Bon mood,<BR> Vic Noir

Well, my goodness. I just ordered cafe au lait wherever I went, morning or afternoon, and nobody batted an eye. I would usually get a pot of rather strong coffee and a pot of hot milk or cream. I would then mix the two together to my desired consistency. This sounds rather like exactly what Diane Mac is wanting.

Thanks everybody for all the helpful hints. I believe a cafe au lait will be just fine, morning, noon or night. (It sounds like a cafe au lait is not made with expresso.) I have heard that the coffee in France and Italy is great so I am sure I can enjoy whats available. Its amazing all the different opinions you get on this board, isn't it? Thanks again for the help.

"I get in a bad mood if I don't get &lt;whatever&gt; the way I want it". <BR><BR>I am surprised that in such a PC forum this arrogant, childish remark hasn't attracted the beating it deserves: if you are incapable of not slipping into a bad mood because if you are forced (poor you ! ) into having your coffee the way the locals drink it, then spend your vacation in Daytona Beach, and spare us your little whims.

Half-and-half is broadly equivalent to semi-skimmed milk in the UK. I don't know about Italy, but in France you can buy it in supermarkets as demi-ecreme (sorry about the lack of accents but I don't know how to do them!)

Only on Fodors could it take 34 posts to discuss how to ask for coffee!