A caffè corretto is often prepared by simply adding a few drops of the desired spirit into an espresso shot; however in some cases the alcohol is served in a shot alongside the coffee, allowing the customer to pour the quantity they desire.
The Italian word corretto corresponds to the English word 'corrected'. The term is now an Italian phraseme.[4]
Caffè corretto can also be found widely in Eritrea, a legacy of the Italian colonization of Eritrea. In Asmarino, locally produced areki and cognac are used.
In Spain, a similar drink is known as carajillo; in Portugal café com cheirinho (coffee with scent); in France café-calva (coffee and Calvados); in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark kaffekask, karsk, or kaffegök; and in Mexico cafe con piquete.
Variants
Rexentìn
The rexentin (or raxentin, as it is known in some places) is a tradition of the Veneto region of Italy. Rexentin means 'to rinse': after drinking the caffè corretto a small quantity of coffee remains in the cup, which is cleaned using the spirit used for the beverage, that will then be drunk.