When I first moved to Italy, I chafed against the tiny shots of espresso, meant to be slurped quickly at the counter. I wanted my venti iced Americano — to go, obviously.
Most of us are pretty easygoing when it comes to embracing new food cultures while traveling. We’ll try unfamiliar dishes, attempt to pronounce menu items, and even eat dinner at 10 p.m. in Spain. But coffee? That’s personal. It’s a sacred morning ritual — and nothing makes tourists dig in their heels faster than someone messing with their caffeine routine.
HuffPost spoke with tour guides, baristas and coffee experts about the most common (and most cringe-worthy) quirks they notice when Americans go abroad — so next time you travel, even if you don’t change your order, at least you’ll know what’s making the barista do a double take.
1. Asking For Coffee To-Go
In the U.S., coffee is fuel. We take it everywhere in comically large Stanley cups, balanced precariously from the almost big-enough car cup holders, and carry it into meetings, soccer practices and PTA fundraisers. It’s a lifestyle accessory as much as a drink.
Step outside America, though, and you’ll notice how out of step that habit looks. Coffee abroad is often about slowing down, not speeding up.
“In many traditional coffee cultures, especially in Latin America and some parts of Europe, coffee is enjoyed seated at a cafe, as a slow, social ritual rather than a quick caffeine fix,” said Emmanuel Burgio, founder of Blue Parallel, a bespoke luxury travel boutique.
That’s why to-go cups often don’t even exist abroad — and asking for one? It’s a bit like touring a vineyard and demanding your Pinot Grigio in a Solo cup. You’re missing the point.
“Likewise, in some Polar countries, locals typically sit down with a mug and make the most of bottomless refills of filter coffee (påfyll in Norway) rather than taking it in a to-go cup,” explained Burgio.
2. Expecting Supersized Servings
Speaking of to-go cups, Americans don’t just want their coffee to be portable — they want it to be big. Our standard orders often clock in at 20 to 24 ounces, which is more liquid than you’d get in a bowl of soup abroad.
That sheer scale can be jarring overseas. “Americans are also used to very large coffee sizes. They will usually ask for the biggest size possible and will still wonder why it’s so small,” said Kelly Duhigg, who is a travel blogger and founder of the blog Girl With the Passport.
3. Drinking Iced Coffee In The Dead Of Winter
Once sweater weather hits, I’m happily swapping ice cubes for pumpkin spice (sue me, it’s delicious). But plenty of Americans aren’t putting their cold brew down anytime soon. In fact, about one in three Americans drinks iced coffee year-round, according to Innova Market Insights.
Abroad, though? Ordering an iced latte in January earns you side-eye at best, confusion at worst. “Even in winter, some Americans order iced lattes, which surprises locals since Icelanders usually stick to hot drinks when it’s cold outside,” said Varun Kukreti, director of culinary in charge of food and beverage at The Reykjavik Edition
4. Insisting On Oat (Or Almond, Or Soy) Milk
Proud coffee cultures — think Italians, Colombians or the Turks — aren’t shy about telling you that you’re doing it wrong. I’ve been corrected myself more than once: asking for milk in the afternoon in Italy (a major faux pas), or for non-dairy alternatives in Panama, where the only choice was sweetened condensed milk poured straight from the can. Forget about almond, oat, or soy — they aren’t even on the radar.
That hasn’t changed much in many places. “While plant-based milks are generally growing more popular, almond, oat, coconut or soy milks aren’t always available in smaller cafes or off-the-beaten-track destinations,” said Burgio.
5. And If You Do Drink Dairy, It’s Not An All-Day Thing
My go-to is always a double-shot latte, whether it’s the first thing I put in my body, paired with brunch, or a 2 p.m. lifeline before tackling my inbox.
But in Italy, that routine didn’t fly. “One habit of American tourists that might seem unusual in the Italian coffee culture is ordering a cappuccino after 12 p.m.,” said Chiara Coletta, tour staff supervisor in Western Europe for G Adventures. “For Italians, cappuccino is typically a breakfast drink, so ordering one after lunch or in the mid-afternoon can seem a bit odd.”
An espresso shot caps the meal off, typically to “aid” digestion. Thankfully, from my research, it’s just a quirk of the Italians.
6. Demanding Syrups And Splenda
If you’ve mastered a Starbucks secret menu order — say, a double pump vanilla, half pump caramel, half pump pumpkin spice — brace yourself for disappointment abroad. In many countries, flavored syrups simply don’t exist. “Requests for vanilla, caramel or pumpkin spice syrups are common. In Iceland, coffee culture is simpler and leans toward strong, unsweetened brews,” explained Kukreti.
And if your morning ritual depends on artificial sweeteners, it’s worth slipping a few packets into your bag. “Americans tend to use a lot of Equal and Splenda in their coffee. So, they will ask for these, while many locals tend to use regular sugar or just drink their coffee as is. Cafes will usually offer sugar, and many Americans will decline,” said Duhigg.
7. Refusing To Go Without Decaf
Americans love their options — and that includes decaf. But abroad, don’t expect the same accommodation. [Decaf coffee is] “not traditionally popular here, so cafés usually keep small batches or don’t offer it at all,” said Kukreti.
8. Wanting The ‘Weak Stuff’
If you find yourself ordering an Americano in Italy, know that it’s not exactly a compliment. Italian coffee culture revolves around espresso. An Americano, by contrast, is simply an espresso shot topped with hot water, effectively diluting it.
“Americans are used to a lighter coffee compared to the Italian espresso, so they often dilute espresso with hot water to make it less intense,” explained Coletta. “That’s exactly why in Italy this type of coffee is called an ‘Americano’— a name that perfectly reflects its origin. It’s a simple but popular drink for those who want a less strong but still flavorful coffee.”
For Italians, it feels like ruining a perfectly good espresso. For Americans, you may just feel like you’re drinking a regular cup of coffee.