\n<\/p>\n
It’s no surprise that Italy \u2014 the country that invented espresso \u2014\u00a0can credit coffee as a major part of its economy.\u00a0How large?\u00a0Well,\u00a0according to Statista<\/a>, Italy’s coffee scene has pulled in $15.60 billion in revenue in 2025 so far. Slow Italy<\/a>\u00a0reports that, in cities like Trieste, residents consume 10 kilograms of coffee beans annually,\u00a0making it one of the world’s most coffee-obsessed destinations. While inflation has pushed up the price of household items<\/a>\u00a0and increased the value of\u00a0\u20ac1 ($1.17)\u00a0by around 70% since 2000,\u00a0espresso prices have stayed remarkably stable. Statista<\/a> also\u00a0reports\u00a0the average price of a cup of coffee in Italy is around \u20ac1.50 as of December 2024, though some cities still charge even less than\u00a0that. Still, many tourists pay much, much more than that amount for the same cup, simply because they’re missing a simple trick that could save them a lot on their Italian adventure.<\/p>\n The key is an old Italian habit: Stand at the bar instead of sitting down at a table. Tourists who stand pay the normal local price. Those who sit get hit with much higher bills.\u00a0This price differential, known as “al banco” \u2014 which translates to “at the bar”\u00a0\u2014 versus “al tavolo” (“at the table”),\u00a0fits Italy’s quick coffee culture: Locals\u00a0usually drink their espresso in around 30 seconds\u00a0before continuing with their day.<\/p>\n