An aperitif is served before the meal and serves to stimulate the appetite of the guests, to shorten the waiting time for the meal and to lighten the atmosphere. Usually, the aperitif is a light and refreshing drink.
In principle, a digestif is the opposite of an aperitif. It is taken especially after heavy meals and is intended to help digest the food. In most cases, the digestif is a heavy spirit, such as ouzo or grappa.