Aruba
Aruba's coffee scene is a delightful blend of international influences and a growing appreciation for quality brews, much like you'd find in a well-developed tourist destination. While it doesn't have a deeply unique "traditional Aruban coffee" style like some other cultures, you'll find a wide range of options to suit any coffee lover's preference, often with a relaxed, island vibe.
Here are the different ways to order a coffee in Aruba and what's in them:
Standard Coffee Shop Offerings (Most Common & Widely Available)
These are the espresso-based and brewed coffees you'd recognize from cafes worldwide. You'll find these in hotels, dedicated coffee shops, and many restaurants.
Espresso:
What's in it: A small, concentrated shot of coffee, made by forcing hot, pressurized water through finely-ground coffee beans. It's the foundation for many other drinks.
How to order: "Espresso" (single shot) or "Double Espresso" (or "Doppio").
Americano:
What's in it: Espresso diluted with hot water. It has a similar strength to drip coffee but a different flavor profile.
How to order: "Americano." You can often specify a single or double shot.
Cappuccino:
What's in it: Equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and a thick layer of frothed milk. Often garnished with cocoa powder or cinnamon.
How to order: "Cappuccino."
Latte (Caffè Latte):
What's in it: Espresso with a larger proportion of steamed milk and a thin layer of foam. It's creamier and less intense than a cappuccino.
How to order: "Latte." Often available with flavored syrups (vanilla, caramel, hazelnut, etc.).
Macchiato:
What's in it: Espresso "marked" with a small dollop of foamed milk. It's an espresso-forward drink with just a hint of creaminess.
How to order: "Macchiato" or "Espresso Macchiato."
Mocha (Caffè Mocha):
What's in it: A chocolate-flavored latte, typically made with espresso, steamed milk, and chocolate syrup or cocoa powder. Often topped with whipped cream.
How to order: "Mocha" or "Caffè Mocha."
Flat White:
What's in it: Similar to a latte but with a stronger coffee flavor (sometimes made with ristretto shots) and a finer, velvety microfoam, with less distinction between milk and foam.
How to order: "Flat White."
Drip Coffee / Brewed Coffee / Black Coffee:
What's in it: Coffee made by pouring hot water over ground coffee beans, usually through a filter. "Black coffee" refers to it served without milk or sugar.
How to order: "Drip coffee," "Regular coffee," or "Black coffee." You'll then add milk/cream and sugar to your taste.
Cold Coffee Drinks
Iced coffee drinks are extremely popular and widely available.
Iced Coffee:
What's in it: Typically brewed coffee (drip or espresso) served over ice. Milk and sugar are usually added to taste by the customer.
How to order: "Iced Coffee."
Iced Latte:
What's in it: Espresso and cold milk poured over ice.
How to order: "Iced Latte." Also commonly available with various flavored syrups.
Iced Americano:
What's in it: Espresso and cold water poured over ice.
How to order: "Iced Americano."
Iced Mocha:
What's in it: Espresso, chocolate syrup, and cold milk poured over ice, often topped with whipped cream.
How to order: "Iced Mocha."
Cold Brew:
What's in it: Coffee grounds steeped in cold water for an extended period (12-24 hours), resulting in a less acidic, smoother concentrate. This concentrate is then diluted with water or milk and served over ice.
How to order: "Cold Brew."
Frappe-style Drinks (Blended Iced Coffee):
What's in it: Blended ice, coffee (espresso or coffee concentrate), milk, sugar, and often flavored syrups (e.g., caramel, mocha). Usually topped with whipped cream.
How to order: Often listed by specific names (e.g., "Caramel Frappuccino" if at Starbucks, or a generic "Iced Blended Coffee" or "Coffee Frappe" at local shops).
Potentially Unique/Local Touches & Considerations
While not a unique type of coffee, these are important factors in Aruba:
Café con Leche:
What's in it: A common Hispanic coffee preparation, literally "coffee with milk." It's typically strong brewed coffee (or espresso) with a significant amount of hot milk, often whole or evaporated milk, and can be sweetened. This is more of a general style rather than a specific recipe, but you'll find it widely available.
How to order: "Café con Leche." You may be asked about sweetness preferences.
Locally Roasted Beans:
While Aruba doesn't grow coffee, there are local roasters that import green beans (often from Colombia, Brazil, Peru) and roast them on the island. This means you can find incredibly fresh, high-quality beans used in local cafes.
Spiked Coffees:
Given the vibrant bar scene, you'll find various "spiked" or "boozy" coffee options, particularly in restaurants and hotel bars.
What's in it: Hot coffee with liqueurs and sometimes rum, often topped with whipped cream.
How to order: Look for "Specialty Coffees" on a menu, or simply ask for "Coffee with [your preferred liqueur/spirit]."
Milk Options:
Most coffee shops in Aruba will offer whole milk, skimmed/low-fat milk, and common plant-based milk alternatives such as almond milk and oat milk. Soy milk and coconut milk may also be available.
How to order: Simply specify when ordering: "Latte with almond milk," etc.
When ordering in Aruba, especially in tourist areas, English is widely spoken, so you can generally use standard coffee terminology.
*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.