Bonaire
Bonaire, a Dutch Caribbean island, offers a coffee experience that blends international cafe standards with a growing local appreciation for quality. While there isn't a deeply unique "Bonairean traditional coffee" in the same vein as some other cultures, the island's burgeoning specialty coffee scene means you'll find excellent coffee.
Here are the different ways to order a coffee in Bonaire and what's in them:
Standard Coffee Shop Offerings (Most Common & Widely Available)
These are the espresso-based and brewed coffees you'd find in cafes, hotels, and many restaurants across the island.
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 base for most other coffee 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 distinct espresso 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." Flavored syrups (vanilla, caramel, hazelnut, etc.) are commonly available.
Macchiato:
What's in it: Espresso "marked" with a small amount of foamed milk. It's an espresso-forward drink with just a hint of creaminess.
How to order: "Macchiato" or "Espresso Macchiato." Caramel Macchiato is also highly popular.
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 (often made with ristretto shots) and a finer, velvety microfoam that's more integrated with the milk.
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, typically through a filter or in a large batch brewer. "Black coffee" refers to it served without milk or sugar. This is a common, straightforward option in many diners and casual eateries.
How to order: "Drip coffee," "Regular coffee," or "Black coffee." You'll then add milk/cream and sugar to your preference.
Cold Coffee Drinks
Iced coffee options are ubiquitous and highly sought after.
Iced Coffee:
What's in it: Generally, brewed coffee (drip or espresso-based) served over ice. Milk and sugar are typically 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." Often 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. These are more dessert-like beverages.
How to order: Often listed by specific names (e.g., "Caramel Frappuccino" if at a chain, or a generic "Iced Blended Coffee" or "Coffee Frappe" at local shops).
General Ordering Tips:
Milk Options: Most cafes will offer regular dairy milk (whole, skimmed) and a variety of plant-based milk alternatives like almond milk and oat milk. Soy milk is also often available.
Sweetness: You'll generally add your own sugar or sweetener to drip coffee and Americanos. For espresso-based drinks, you can often specify "sweet," "light sweet," or "unsweetened."
Language: While Dutch is the official language, Papiamentu is widely spoken, and English is very commonly understood, especially in tourist areas and cafes. Menus are usually multilingual.
*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.