Italian Coffee (USA) Recipe

Ingredients
1/2 oz Amaretto
1/2 oz Kahlua
1 tsp Sugar
5 oz (hot) Coffee ( I use Trader Joes Organic Espresso)
1 1/2 oz Whipping Cream
Directions Pour coffee, amaretto and kahlua into an irish coffee cup and sweeten to taste. Gently float the cream on top, add a teaspoon of amaretto, and serve. To make this into an Italian Coffee - The Italia Way - substiture the Amaretto for Strega

For ordering an espresso in Italy (via lifeinItaly blog), you can simply ask for a "caffe" and remember to drink in quickly. Espresso is not made to sip casually, it is made to be drunk in two or three sips at most. Coffee is not served by itself and is served after a meal, with the exception of breakfast. Any coffee after breakfast should not have milk in it and cappuccino orders after 11 am are often laughed at. However there are numerous varieties of coffee drinks that you can order and all are delicious. This is in no way a complete list as new versions are always being invented or adapted. Here are some of the more popular coffees that you will see ordered in Italy.

Espresso : known a Caffe in Italy, served in a 3 oz or demitasse cup. Strong in taste with a rich bronze froth known as a crema on top.

Doppio : Simply a double espresso.

Ristretto: More concentrated than a regular espresso that is made with less water.

Lungo or Caffe Americano: An Espresso made with more water - opposite a Ristretto.

Macchiato: Espresso that is "marked" with a dollop of steamed milk on top.

Corretto: Espresso that is "corrected" with grappa, cognac or sambuca.

Cappuccino: Espresso with foamed milk and containing equal parts espresso, steamed milk and foamed milk.

Cappuccino scuro: Cappuccino prepared with less milk and is a darker color.

Cappuccino chiaro: Cappuccino prepared with more milk (but less than a caffe latte) and is lighter in color.

Caffe' latte: Espresso made with more milk than a cappuccino but only a small amount of foam. In Italy it is usually a breakfast drink.

Latte macchiato: Steamed milk that is "marked" (sometimes ornately) with a shot of espresso coffee.

How do you take your coffee? Share your favorite recipes here and be entered to win a $20 gift card to Starbucks. All entries must be recieved by January 31st, 2010.