>And generally speaking, Italians don't drink those sickly sweet caloric frappy things we consider to be coffee drinks here in the USA.<

I love the description. Actually, since the invention of Starbucks and co, Europeans are no longer complaining about bad coffee in the States and Canada.

Did you know the coffee machines for Starbucks are made in Weggis, Switzerland?

I really like caffe freddo. Cold, sugary espresso poured over ice. Perfect afternoon pick-me-up.

What is hot chocolate called in Italian? Also, if I remember correctly there is a cold choocolate drink (something like Yahoo). Anyone know what this might be called?

Don't know if you can get it outside of Torino and the Piedmonte . . . there's nothing better than a bicerin.

http://www.cioccola-to.com/english/specialita/bicerin

Well, my DH doesn't drink coffee! He has worked his way up to as much caffeine as he gets in a cafe mocha. Is he just going to be standing around while I drink cappucino after cappucino?

What does he drink as an alternative to coffee? maybe tea? Cokes? juice?

They have very nice decaffinated coffee in Italy. The Illy and Lavazza brands are very good and its difficult to tell it from the real thing.

Una cioccolata calda is hot chocolate. Il latte di cioccolato is chocolate milk.

Decaf is deca, and as noted is available in many cafes.

What happened to hag?

I've seen a lot of Italians put two or even three sugars in their tiny demitasse cups of espresso.

Decaf is also "hag" or decafinnato.

Travelnut: He drinks all those. Can you get all those drinks at a coffee bar? How about the hot chocolate?

art, yes, you can get all those drinks at a coffee bar, including the hot chocolate (though it's not as commonly ordered in Italy as it is in the US.) Your DH will be just fine, as long as he enjoys the <u>experience</u> of the cafe-bar -- which is half the pleasure of being in Italy!
:)

.........Are there any drinks native to Italy that I should try when I'm there?..............

Expresso and Cappuccino (breakfast drink) --- everything was invented by Starbucks !!!

LOL fmpden... don't you mean it was all invented by Starbucci? :-)

If you are going to Rome, definitely try a granita di caffe con panna (coffee slush with whipped cream) at Tazza d'Oro near the Pantheon.

,,,,don't you mean it was all invented by Starbucci? ,,,,,,

I wish. You didn't say where you were going in Italy -- that makes some difference. Verona is the home of expresso -- you have try it. We were fans of flavored coffees until the summer of 92 -- now we own our own expresso machine. And cannot believe that we ever liked the flavored coffees. Be careful, practice safe coffee.

Going to Rome, Florence and Venice... which reminds me of another question... is it safe to drink tap water (and drinks made from water - like coffe) in these areas or should we stick to bottled water?

Don't trust any of the water in Italy! Bring your own bottled water. Don't put it in your hold baggage because it will probably be stolen by the baggage handlers at whatever Italian airport you arrive at.