<p><strong>It is a cultural issue, not a health one.</strong></p>

<p>Traditionally, rich, big coffee drinks like a cappuccino are drunk in the morning in Italy with breakfast whereas espresso is what is drunk in the afternoon. The reasoning for this is that you can take your time and savor a cappuccino in the morning because presumably you are not at work yet, but in the afternoon you are just in and out for a quick energy infusion on a 15 minute break and you don't have the time to drink anything but a shot or two of espresso. </p>

<p>In America people tend to do just the opposite or just drink what they want, when they want which can lead to some judgement when visiting Italy. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-16T14:04:52.357Z
You might be right that it is only a cultural thing, which is a valid answer of course, but I also heard that the reason is that the milk is difficult to digest and this more likely cause problems with sleeping, if you drink milk coffee late. Interesting would be to hear if some experts can confirm this or not.
lihume
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-16T14:14:42.190Z
@lihume Maybe, but that would be outside our scope.
Joshua Aslan Smith
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-16T18:27:54.077Z
the ability to digest dairy varies greatly from person to person and even changes for a person over the course of their life
Justin C
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2015-07-16T11:42:29.193Z
I saw a program where a Coffee shop in Italy will give you (Americans especially) a glass of milk when you ask for a Latte ;-)  The Italians argue that its a "Caffé Latte" (Coffee with milk) XD
TungstenX
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-21T10:21:00.430Z
My impression is that it is considered to be tending towards gluttony to have a milky coffee after a meal, whereas it is acceptable at breakfast because it is the meal. That said, all of my Italian relatives exclusively drink espresso, and coffee with milk was only for kids.
lithic
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-16T13:07:42.150Z
2015-02-16T13:07:42.150Z
Joshua Aslan Smith
<p>Italians never drink cappucchino after a heavey meal like lunch and dinner,
then they will have espresso.
Caffelatte you have in the morning with your breakfast.
Cappucchino you can also drink in the afternoon, let us say at 4 pm 
after your work.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-07T19:41:50.993Z
Welcome Giorgio. You mention Italian habits. However, I still cannot see why they do it in your answer. Maybe you can help us by exposing it a bit more.
MTSan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-07T12:45:50.990Z
2017-02-07T12:45:50.990Z
Giorgio
<p>I have often heard and seen, especially in Italy, recommendations to avoid coffee with milk like Latte or Cappuccino in the afternoon, while Espresso is widely consumed during this time of day. </p>

<p>What is the reason for this? Why would one avoid milk-based coffee drinks during the afternoon?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-16T04:58:28.583Z
I'm having trouble understanding your question. What makes you think that this is anything more than just a convention; similar to drinking tea at tea-time in England? Is there some factor involved that suggest that there's something more to it than just "this is how it's done?"
Shokhet
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-16T09:12:45.327Z
Yes, you might be right, but I always understood it as something more than just a convention. In Italy people really replied with "Are you sure?", when I tried to order Cappuccino after my dinner and suggested me to have Espresso instead, so I thought there is a medical/scientific explanation for this.
lihume
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-16T09:48:19.623Z
This is just a convention in Italy, for them milky coffees are for breakfast, espresso all other times, they think you're weird if you order a milky coffee after a meal too
EdChum
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-16T13:44:59.990Z
It would be great if you had some pointers / articles on that observation. If there are health issues, there are probably medical studies somewhere. But well, in this case, EdChum and Joshua nailed it.
Eric Platon
<health>
Why is drinking Espresso in the afternoon fine, while milk coffee is not?
lihume
# Why is drinking Espresso in the afternoon fine, while milk coffee is not?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-02-16)

I have often heard and seen, especially in Italy, recommendations to avoid coffee with milk like Latte or Cappuccino in the afternoon, while Espresso is widely consumed during this time of day.

What is the reason for this? Why would one avoid milk-based coffee drinks during the afternoon?

**Tags:** health

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I'm having trouble understanding your question. What makes you think that this is anything more than just a convention; similar to drinking tea at tea-time in England? Is there some factor involved that suggest that there's something more to it than just "this is how it's done?"  
> **username_0**: Yes, you might be right, but I always understood it as something more than just a convention. In Italy people really replied with "Are you sure?", when I tried to order Cappuccino after my dinner and suggested me to have Espresso instead, so I thought there is a medical/scientific explanation for this.  
> **username_2**: This is just a convention in Italy, for them milky coffees are for breakfast, espresso all other times, they think you're weird if you order a milky coffee after a meal too  
> **username_3**: It would be great if you had some pointers / articles on that observation. If there are health issues, there are probably medical studies somewhere. But well, in this case, username_2 and Joshua nailed it.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2015-02-16. Score: 13 | Accepted answer

**It is a cultural issue, not a health one.**

Traditionally, rich, big coffee drinks like a cappuccino are drunk in the morning in Italy with breakfast whereas espresso is what is drunk in the afternoon. The reasoning for this is that you can take your time and savor a cappuccino in the morning because presumably you are not at work yet, but in the afternoon you are just in and out for a quick energy infusion on a 15 minute break and you don't have the time to drink anything but a shot or two of espresso.

In America people tend to do just the opposite or just drink what they want, when they want which can lead to some judgement when visiting Italy.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: You might be right that it is only a cultural thing, which is a valid answer of course, but I also heard that the reason is that the milk is difficult to digest and this more likely cause problems with sleeping, if you drink milk coffee late. Interesting would be to hear if some experts can confirm this or not.  
> **username_4**: @username_0 Maybe, but that would be outside our scope.  
> **username_5**: the ability to digest dairy varies greatly from person to person and even changes for a person over the course of their life  
> **username_6**: I saw a program where a Coffee shop in Italy will give you (Americans especially) a glass of milk when you ask for a Latte ;-)  The Italians argue that its a "Caffé Latte" (Coffee with milk) XD  
> **username_7**: My impression is that it is considered to be tending towards gluttony to have a milky coffee after a meal, whereas it is acceptable at breakfast because it is the meal. That said, all of my Italian relatives exclusively drink espresso, and coffee with milk was only for kids.  

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### Answer by username_8 on 2017-02-07. Score: 0

Italians never drink cappucchino after a heavey meal like lunch and dinner,
then they will have espresso.
Caffelatte you have in the morning with your breakfast.
Cappucchino you can also drink in the afternoon, let us say at 4 pm
after your work.

> **Comments:**
> **username_9**: Welcome username_8. You mention Italian habits. However, I still cannot see why they do it in your answer. Maybe you can help us by exposing it a bit more.  

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