Italy's café culture is famous worldwide, and ordering coffee correctly is a small social skill. The general word for coffee is il caffè, which by default refers to a shot of espresso. If you want a milk-based drink, ask for il cappuccino (espresso topped with steamed, frothy milk), or order l'espresso if you specifically want a small, strong shot. In Italy, cappuccino is considered a morning drink; after a meal, an espresso is the norm.
For non-coffee options, there's il tè (tea) and il latte (milk — also used in the famous caffè latte). When it comes to water, you'll be asked to choose between still and sparkling. The general word is l'acqua, with l'acqua naturale (still water) and l'acqua frizzante (sparkling water) as the two standard choices. Italian restaurants almost always serve bottled water rather than tap water.
Wine and beer are typical dinner companions. Red wine is il vino rosso, white wine is il vino bianco, and beer is la birra. For a non-alcoholic option, il succo d'arancia (orange juice) is widely available, and you can also order spremuta (fresh-squeezed juice) in many cafés. Knowing these drink names lets you handle the entire ordering sequence with confidence.