8 Coffee Habits That Instantly Give Away You’re An American Abroad (And Make Locals Roll Their Eyes)

When I first moved to Italy, I chafed towards the tiny photographs of espresso, meant to be slurped rapidly on the counter. I wished my venti iced Americano — to go, clearly.

Most of us are fairly easygoing in the case of embracing new meals cultures whereas touring. We’ll attempt unfamiliar dishes, try and pronounce menu gadgets, and even eat dinner at 10 p.m. in Spain. But espresso? That’s private. It’s a sacred morning ritual — and nothing makes vacationers dig of their heels quicker than somebody messing with their caffeine routine.

HuffPost spoke with tour guides, baristas, and low consultants about the most typical (and most cringe-worthy) quirks they discover when Americans go overseas — so subsequent time you journey, even in case you don’t change your order, a minimum of you’ll know what’s making the barista do a double take.

1. Asking For Coffee To-Go

In the US, espresso is gasoline. We take it all over the place in comically giant Stanley cups, balanced precariously from the just about big-enough automotive cup holders, and carry it into conferences, soccer practices, and PTA fundraisers. It’s a life-style accent as a lot as a drink.

Step exterior America, although, and also you’ll discover how out of step that behavior seems to be. Coffee overseas is commonly about slowing down, not dashing 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,” stated Emmanuel Burgio, founding father of Blue Parallel, a bespoke luxurious journey boutique.

That’s why to-go cups typically don’t even exist overseas — and asking for one? It’s a bit like touring a winery and demanding your Pinot Grigio in a Solo cup. You’re lacking the purpose.

“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,” defined Burgio.

2. Expecting Supersized Servings

Speaking of to-go cups, Americans don’t simply need their espresso to be moveable — they need it to be massive. Our commonplace orders typically clock in at 20 to 24 ounces, which is extra liquid than you’d get in a bowl of soup overseas.

That sheer scale will be jarring abroad. “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,” stated Kelly Duhigg, who’s a journey blogger and founding father of the weblog Girl With the Passport.

3. Drinking Iced Coffee In The Dead Of Winter

Once sweater climate hits, I’m fortunately swapping ice cubes for pumpkin spice (sue me, it’s scrumptious). But loads of Americans aren’t placing their chilly brew down anytime quickly. In truth, about one in three Americans drinks iced espresso year-round, based on Innova Market Insights.

Abroad, although? Ordering an iced latte in January earns you side-eye at finest, 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,” stated Varun Kukreti, director of culinary in control of meals and beverage at The Reykjavik Edition

4. Insisting On Oat (Or Almond, Or Soy) Milk

Proud espresso cultures — suppose Italians, Colombians or the Turks — aren’t shy about telling you that you simply’re doing it flawed. I’ve been corrected myself greater than as soon as: asking for milk within the afternoon in Italy (a serious fake pas), or for non-dairy options in Panama, the place the one alternative 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 modified a lot in lots of locations. “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,” stated Burgio.

5. And If You Do Drink Dairy, It’s Not An All-Day Thing

My go-to is at all times a double-shot latte, whether or not it’s the very first thing I put in my physique, paired with brunch, or a 2 p.m. lifeline earlier than 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.,” stated Chiara Coletta, tour employees 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, sometimes to “aid” digestion. Thankfully, from my analysis, it’s only 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 your self for disappointment overseas. In many international locations, flavored syrups merely 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,” defined Kukreti.

And in case your morning ritual is dependent upon synthetic sweeteners, it’s value slipping just 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,” stated Duhigg.

7. Refusing To Go Without Decaf

Americans love their choices — and that features decaf. But overseas, don’t count on the identical lodging. [Decaf coffee is] “not traditionally popular here, so cafés usually keep small batches or don’t offer it at all,” stated Kukreti.

8. Wanting The ‘Weak Stuff’

If you end up ordering an Americano in Italy, know that it’s not precisely a praise. Italian espresso tradition revolves round espresso. An Americano, in contrast, is just an espresso shot topped with sizzling water, successfully 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,” defined 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 appears like ruining a wonderfully good espresso. For Americans, you might simply really feel such as you’re consuming a daily cup of espresso.

This article initially appeared on HuffPost.