【How-to】Why is caffeine an exception to the i before e rule

In Italian it is pronounced /kaf’fɛ/ and spelt caffè, and etymologists claim it was derived from the Turkish pronunciation of kahveh. The letter -k, along with j, w, x and y do not form part of the Italian alphabet which has 21 letters, consequently the -k plosive is usually represented by the letter -c.