A coffee, please.
caf-FÈ — two syllables, stress on the last. The accent is always written.
After finishing dessert — or instead of dessert — to close the meal. In Italy, 'un caffè' always means an espresso.
When you order 'un caffè' in Italy, you will receive an espresso by default. If you want something else, you must specify. 'Caffè lungo' (longer espresso), 'caffè macchiato' (espresso with a dash of milk), 'caffè corretto' (espresso with a shot of grappa or sambuca).
Un caffè macchiato.
An espresso with a dash of milk.
'Macchiato' means 'stained' — the espresso is 'stained' with a little milk
Un caffè lungo, per favore.
A long espresso, please.
More water, same amount of coffee — less intense
Un caffè corretto alla sambuca.
An espresso corrected with sambuca.
A digestivo tradition — the coffee 'corrected' with a spirit
Espresso after a meal is a genuine ritual in Italy. It is consumed standing at the bar in about 30 seconds — but in a restaurant, you remain seated. The coffee is typically the last thing on the bill and costs €1–1.50 even in restaurants.