Screw all that Starbucks syrup crap, I will miss the real "motor oil" coffee when returning whenever I return. Best thing about the coffee is... It's ridiculously cheap and coffee bars are everywhere. The most expensive cappuccino will cost you 1.80€ and that's "tourist priced" range. Normally it's around 1.30€. That's a cappuccino, mind you.
What we call espresso, Italians call normal coffee and it is served for a euro in the most expensive places.
3 Ways of Acquiring Coffee
BarMost coffee bars function like bars in clubs. You go up to the cashier, order your coffee, give them the money, drink it at the bar and zoom out. Sometimes the process is inverted because bars are conjoined with tobacco shops. Coffee and cigarettes!
Cafe/Bar
Other places are more liberal and will let you sit down with the beverage in designated areas, and there is an unspoken rule of bringing the cup back to the bar as you pay and leave. They also usually have a large choice of breakfast and lunch food. Italians aren't into large meals during working days, so usually they have a panino or a brioche with their coffee for breakfast and lunch. In the evenings most of these places serve aperitivo. That's when you buy an alcoholic beverage and get an open buffet.
Restaurant-y/Cafe/Bar
Then some establishments will not let you sit down with a coffee unless they are serving you. That's where the fun begins because there is a charge "per head" which starts from 1€ and goes up to 3€. This is more of a sit down and eat a meal situation. Some of the above mentioned places offer insalate for lunch and that's when you can sit down and enjoy it.
There you have it a breakdown of italian coffee drinking customs.
