To all my coffee addicted readers who can't start their morning without a venti americano, or make it to the end of the day without their daily grande soy latte, don't go to Italy!

Ok fine go. But if you do, and you're a Starbucks addict, let me tell what you need to know.

As proud coffee connoisseurs, Italians have yet to allow a Starbucks to open in Italy. If you find amazing coffee out here, it will will not be found in a cute white paper cup marked with a green siren. Nor will it be found in a clear cup with with a green straw. Most likely it will come in a little shot-sized cup to be enjoyed at the bar. If you want a larger cup, you may want to ask for a caffè americano (the size, as the name implies, that is more adapted to the American market). Don't expect it to be 4 shots of expresso diluted in water either. You'll be served a whole cup of pure coffee. So you may not want to drink that after 5pm!

PICTURED: A TASTY ITALIAN TREAT AT THE POOL BAR...

CAN I JUST TAKE THE WHOLE MACHINE?

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Forget listening to jazz music in comfy chairs. Instead it's big steel coffee machines and listening to the Italian accent’s singing all around you. The experience is no less fun !

THE COFFEE SALUTING IT'S OWN DELICIOUS NATURE. WELL DONE COFFEE. WELL DONE.

MMMMMMMmmm..

LITTLE KNOWN FACT: JESUS LOOKS OVER BARISTA'S AND THEIR MACHINES.

OUR BARISTA RENZO SERVING ESPRESSINO FREDDO AT THE POOL BAR

GET IN MY BELLY!

If you're like me, and can't drink your coffee without drowning it in milk, you have options. For example, I discovered the difference between a cappuccino (1/3 coffee, 1/3 milk, 1/3 foam) a caffè macchiato (the mini shot size version minus foam, or as they call it in Italian "schiuma") and a latte macchiato (bigger cup of milk with a shot of expresso). It was tough research but someone had to do it! A warning if you're a fan of soy milk or milky alternatives, be aware that very few places will have them available. They aren't as trendy here.

Have a sweet tooth? You can try a mocaccino. It's a tiny little mocha (cocoa and coffee). Or, last but not least, try the crema di caffè freddo (or espressino freddo if you're in the south). It is the Italian take on that all-time Starbucks favorite the Frappuccino! They're prepared in the same machines that are used to make granite! Size is left to the discretion of your barista, so treat them nicely for those tasty ginormous American sizes (or at least something bigger than a shot glass).