Frequently Asked Questions

Como Speziale is a small-batch Italian syrup brand from Menaggio, on Lake Como. We craft flavors inspired by Italian café and aperitivo culture, made to turn an everyday cappuccino or evening spritz into something worth savoring.

Every syrup is formulated at Casa 43 in Menaggio and produced in Italy.

Speziale is old Italian for an apothecary or spice maker — someone who blends with care and precision. It reflects our approach to flavor: a bit of ritual, a bit of romance, made with intention.

Aperitivo is the Italian ritual of slowing down before dinner — a drink, something small to eat, good company. Our syrups are built for that moment as much as for your morning espresso: a splash in a spritz, a drizzle over gelato, a pour into a cocktail at golden hour on the lake.

Our current lineup:

Tahitian Vanilla
Warm Toasted Hazelnut
Creamy Salted Caramel
Ciao Bella! Cherry
Sugar Free Tahitian Vanilla
Lavanda (Italy only — available at Casa 43)
Cocco (Italy only — available at Casa 43)
Pistacchio (Italy only — available at Casa 43)
Limone (Italy only — available at Casa 43)

New flavors and seasonal releases drop throughout the year — sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know.

Our standard bottle is 700 mL (23.7 fl oz). The Sample Pack offers smaller 200 mL bottles, so you can taste before committing to a full size.

Single 700 mL bottles start at $32 and include a Como Speziale pump. A 4 bottle, 200 mL sample pack is coming soon.

These four flavors are crafted exclusively for our Casa 43 guests in Menaggio. We're working on bringing them stateside — follow us to be the first to know when they cross the Atlantic.

Flavors marked All Natural are made without artificial flavors or colors. Our Sugar Free options use sucralose for a clean taste with none of the sugar.

Pure cane sugar – never high-fructose corn syrup.

Sucralose. No sugar, no compromise on flavor.

Yes. Our recipes do not contain gluten ingredients, and we follow strict allergen handling protocols.

Yes, all of our syrups are vegan-friendly.

The following flavors contain or are produced near tree-nut ingredients: Warm Toasted Hazelnut, Pistacchio, and Cocco. Always check the bottle label before serving to anyone with an allergy — formulations may change.

No. None of our current syrups contain caffeine.

No. All Como Speziale syrups are dairy-free.

We're not currently Kosher or Halal certified. That said, our syrups are plant-based, contain no animal-derived ingredients or alcohol, and are suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets.

Como Speziale is small-batch, formulated at Casa 43 on Lake Como — and produced in Italy. Our flavors are inspired by real Italian café and aperitivo culture, not generic flavor profiles.

We're formulated at Casa 43 on Lake Como, in a country where food is treated as craft, not commodity. That means pure cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup, and glass instead of plastic — it shows in the flavor. Mass-market syrups are priced for volume. We're priced for quality.

Yes. Como Speziale works as a 1:1 substitute in coffee, cocktails, and desserts.

However you like — but a few favorites:

- In coffee: A pump in your latte, cappuccino, or cold brew
- In cocktails & spritzes: Try our signature recipes like The Comotini, Cherry Negroni, or Amalfi Lemon Spritz
- In sparkling water or sodas: A splash makes a dirty soda or Italian-style soda
- In dessert: Drizzle over gelato, panna cotta, pancakes, or yogurt

Explore the full library on our Recipes page

A good starting point is ½ oz (about 1 tablespoon or 2 pumps) per 8 oz drink. Adjust to taste — some flavors (like Lavender) are best used lightly, while others (like Hazelnut) hold up beautifully even in stronger pours.

Most of our flavors play beautifully with dairy and plant milks. Tart fruit flavors (citrus, cherry, certain berries) can sometimes curdle hot milk — this is a natural acid-and-protein reaction, not a defect. To avoid it: add the syrup to the espresso first, then pour milk on top.

Absolutely. Try Warm Toasted Hazelnut in a buttercream, Lavanda in shortbread, or Creamy Salted Caramel drizzled over roasted pears.

Yes, pumps are included with every bottle and dispense approximately ¼ oz per pump on our 700 mL bottles. Pumps can also be purchased on our Shop Lifestyle page.

Our premium glass-bottled syrups last 24 months from production date. The best by date is printed on the bottle.

Our syrups should be consumed within 6 months of opening. After opening, store in a dry place, away from light and from heat sources.

No refrigeration required before or after opening. Store in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight, ideally between 65–80°F (18–27°C).

Printed on the back of every bottle, near the bottom of the label.

We currently ship throughout the United States. For other regions, please contact us directly at ciao@comospeziale.com or visit us at Casa 43 in Menaggio, Italy.

Orders over $50 ship free. Orders under $50 are calculated at checkout.

Orders typically process within 1–2 business days and arrive within 5 business days. Need rush shipping? Email us at ciao@comospeziale.com.

Yes. You'll receive a shipment confirmation email with tracking as soon as your order ships. You can also check your order status any time in your Account dashboard.

We move quickly — orders begin processing shortly after they're placed. If you need to make a change, email us at ciao@comospeziale.com as soon as possible and we'll do our best to catch it in time.

We're sorry, that's never the welcome we want. Email a photo of the bottle and packaging to ciao@comospeziale.com within 7 days of delivery, and we'll send a replacement at no cost.

Because our syrups are food products, we can't accept returns on opened bottles. If your order arrives damaged, defective, or incorrect, we'll replace it — see above.

Contact us at ciao@comospeziale.com and we'll investigate.

We accept all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover, Diners Club, Elo, JCB, and UnionPay), plus Shop Pay (including pay-in-installments), PayPal, Google Pay, and Venmo.

Yes! You can purchase a gift card here:

Purchase Como Speziale gift cards

Yes, we ship to PO boxes.

Via Annetta e Celestino Lusardi, 43 · 22017 Menaggio · Lake Como, Italy. We're a short walk from the Menaggio ferry terminal.

Tuesday through Sunday 10:30 AM - 7:00 PM.

No — walk-ins are always welcome.

Yes — our full lineup is available in-store, including the Italy-exclusive Lavanda, Pistacchio, Cocco and Limone.

Not currently. The Italy-only flavors are part of what makes a visit to Casa 43 special.

Yes. If you'd like to carry Como Speziale on your menu or shelf, email foodservice@comospeziale.com with your business details and we'll be in touch.

Products purchased through our online shop are intended for personal use or use within your own business. Reselling requires written authorization — contact us at ciao@comospeziale.com to inquire about becoming an authorized seller.

Click Account at the top of any page to register. An account lets you track orders, save favorites, and check out faster.

Use the Forgot Password link on the login screen and we'll email you a reset link.

Email: ciao@comospeziale.com
We typically respond within 1 business day.

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