What type of coffee do you use?
ti-PO — two syllables, stress on first.
When you are a coffee enthusiast and want to know the blend or origin of the beans before ordering.
Asking about the coffee blend shows knowledge and respect for the barista's craft. Italian bars typically use blends (miscele) rather than single-origin beans. Premium bars will proudly tell you the roaster and origin.
È un blend o un monorigine?
Is it a blend or a single origin?
'Monorigine' = single-origin beans — increasingly popular in specialty bars
Da quale torrefattore viene?
Which roaster does it come from?
'Torrefattore' = coffee roaster — specialist vocabulary that impresses baristas
È arabica o robusta?
Is it arabica or robusta?
Key question: arabica is smoother and more aromatic; robusta is stronger and used in southern Italian blends
Northern Italian coffee (Milan, Turin) tends to use lighter arabica blends with more acidity. Southern Italian coffee (Naples, Palermo) uses darker roasts with more robusta for a stronger, creamier cup. These regional differences are fiercely debated in Italy.