A cappuccino, please.
cap-puc-CI-no — four syllables, stress on the third. Double 'p' and double 'c' are each held slightly.
In the morning only — before 11 am. Ordering a cappuccino after lunch or dinner marks you immediately as a tourist.
A cappuccino is espresso topped with steamed milk and foam in equal thirds. In Italy it is strictly a breakfast drink, paired with a cornetto (croissant). The belief is that milk is heavy on the stomach after a meal.
Un cappuccino senza schiuma.
A cappuccino without foam.
'Senza schiuma' removes the foam — essentially a flat white
Un cappuccino ben caldo.
A very hot cappuccino.
Italian cappuccini are served at moderate temperature — ask for hotter if you prefer
Un cappuccino secco.
A dry cappuccino.
'Secco' means mostly foam, very little milk — intense flavour
The cappuccino + cornetto combination is the Italian national breakfast. Consumed in under 5 minutes at the bar, it is both a ritual and an art form. The barista's skill in creating the milk foam ('schiuma') is a source of professional pride.