3Coffee is a Marathon, Not a Sprint
When comparing Greek coffee vs Italian espresso culture, the difference is night and day. In Italy, you throw back a shot of espresso at the bar and leave within two minutes. In Greece, coffee is a sacred social ritual that can easily stretch for three to four hours.
If you want to know how to order coffee in Greece like a local, you have to familiarize yourself with iced coffees. The Frappé (whipped instant coffee) was once the king, but today, the Freddo Espresso (iced, shaken espresso) and Freddo Cappuccino (iced espresso topped with cold milk foam) rule the roost. You sit, you sip incredibly slowly, and you talk.
Actionable Tip:
- When ordering your coffee, the barista will ask how sweet you want it upfront: sketo (plain/no sugar), metrio (medium/one sugar), or glyko (sweet/two sugars).
