When in Rome, do as the Romans do and don't drink cappuccino in the afternoon.

By Diane Vadino

Romans take their coffee (their espresso, their cappuccino, their macchiato) seriously. They also take seriously the subtle social codes that dictate what coffee is ordered when. Try to order a cappuccino after 11 a.m. and you may be met with eye-rolling, or a waiter’s somewhat unbelievable insistence there’s no milk to be found in the restaurant. Credit it to a cultural disinclination to mix dairy with heavier lunch and dinner fare, and settle for an espresso. If you absolutely must have a bit of milk in your coffee, order a macchiato, a name derived from the word for "stained" (in this case, stained with a drop of milk).

Go to Rome City Guide.