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.
