For the coffee - vacuum-pack beans and you should be ok, though don't wait *too* long before consuming...

Hi B,

Donot change dollars or pounds for Euros.

Bring your ATM card and a credit card.

Charge everything chargeable.

Get what GBP you might need in the UK.

Get what Euro you might need in Italy.

birthdaygirlstrip, since you plan to do a lot of traveling in the future, suggest you bookmark a couple of websites: http://www.travel.state.gov/ will give you entry requirements and lots of other useful information; http://www.cdc.gov/travel/ will give you health information, especially handy for travel outside the western hemisphere.

If you are traveling on a US passport you do not need a visa for Florence.

Italy uses the euro.

xe.com is a good website for currency exchange rates

Try not to exchange money, each transactions costs you. Instead, take GBP enough for the London portion from a ATM machine(s) in London. Take euro enough for the Italy portion from an ATM machine(s) in Italy.