Argentina
Argentinian coffee culture is deeply influenced by Italian traditions, so you'll find espresso-based drinks are the most common. While they don't produce a lot of coffee beans themselves (most are imported), they have a rich history of enjoying coffee as a social activity.
Here are the different ways to order coffee in Argentina and what's in them:
Basic Coffee Types:
Un Café (or Café Solo, Café Chico): This is a single shot of espresso, served in a small cup. It's strong and meant as a quick pick-me-up.
Café en Jarrito (or Café Doble): This is a double shot of espresso, served in a slightly larger, jar-like cup. It's essentially a bigger version of the "café."
Un Americano: This is an espresso diluted with hot water, similar to a drip coffee. Some cafes might add a touch of water to make it "liviano" (weak).
Coffee with Milk:
Un Cortado: This is one of the most popular ways to order coffee in Argentina. "Cortado" literally means "cut," so it's an espresso "cut" with a small amount of steamed milk and foam. It's similar to a macchiato. If you want more milk, you can ask for "un poco más leche."
Café con Leche: This is a classic and a staple, particularly for breakfast. It's typically half espresso and half steamed milk with foam, served in a regular-sized coffee cup. It's similar to a latte or café au lait. You can specify "un poco mas café que leche" (a little more coffee than milk) or "mas leche que café" (more milk than coffee) to adjust the proportions.
Una Lágrima: This is the opposite of a cortado. "Lágrima" means "tear," referring to a "tear-drop" of espresso in a cup of warm milk and foam. It's essentially milk with just a touch of coffee.
Un Macchiato: While less common than a cortado, this is an espresso with a dollop of foam, but no milk.
Specialty and Other Drinks:
Café con Crema: A shot of espresso topped with a spoonful of whipped cream.
Un Cappuccino: The Argentinian version often comes in a tall, thin glass with clear layers of milk, coffee, and foam, and might be topped with cinnamon (canela) or chocolate. A "cappuccino italiano" might include whipped cream.
Un Submarino: This is not actually a coffee drink, but it's a popular warm beverage often found in cafes. It consists of a glass of warm milk served with a chocolate bar that you submerge and stir to create hot chocolate.
Tips for Ordering:
Sizes: Coffee usually comes in a "chico" (small, one shot) unless you specify "un jarrito" (medium, about 1.5 shots) or "doble" (double shot).
Decaf: If you want decaffeinated coffee, ask for "descafeinado."
Sweeteners: Coffee is often served with a small glass of sparkling water and sometimes mini cookies (galletas). Sugar (azúcar) and honey (miel) are usually available on the table.
Ordering Phrases:
"Quiero un [coffee type], por favor." (I want a [coffee type], please.)
"Me gustaría un [coffee type], por favor." (I would like a [coffee type], please.)
"Te pido un [coffee type], por favor." (I'll order a [coffee type], please – informal)
"¿Tienen café?" (Do you have coffee?)
Argentinians tend to linger over their coffee in cafes, rather than grabbing it to go, so embrace the leisurely pace.
*The content in this document was generated using artificial intelligence, drawing from various online sources, and subsequently refined for accuracy and conciseness in 2025. Users are advised to consult multiple sources to corroborate information and should not rely solely on this document for comprehensive research.