Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso's coffee scene is a blend of traditional West African preferences, influenced by neighboring countries, and a growing adoption of international cafe styles, especially in its larger cities like Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso. While Burkina Faso itself grows Robusta coffee, much of the locally consumed coffee is imported, including instant coffee.
Here are the different ways to order a coffee in Burkina Faso and what's in them:
Traditional / Locally Influenced Coffee:
Café Touba (Café Too-BAH): This is a very common and distinctive spiced coffee that originated in Senegal but is widely popular across West Africa, including Burkina Faso. You'll often find it sold by street vendors.
Ingredients: Coffee beans (often Robusta), roasted and ground with Guinea pepper (Xylopia aethiopica, known as djar) and sometimes cloves.
Preparation: Typically brewed using a filter method (like a pour-over) and often served from a large thermos. It's strong and aromatic.
Taste: Distinctly spicy, with a peppery kick and earthy notes from the Robusta. It's usually served black, but sugar is almost always added, and sometimes milk.
Simple Brewed Coffee (Local Style): In homes and smaller, local eateries, coffee is often prepared using basic, unfiltered methods.
Ingredients: Ground coffee (can be local Robusta or imported), hot water.
Preparation: Ground coffee is placed directly into a cup, and boiling water is poured over it. The grounds are left to settle at the bottom.
Taste: Strong and straightforward. Typically served black, with sugar and powdered or condensed milk often available on the side.
"Thé" / "Ataya" (Tea): While this is tea and not coffee, it's crucial to mention that tea drinking, particularly green tea brewed in a specific, often ritualistic, way, is extremely popular in Burkina Faso and West Africa generally. Sometimes people might ask for "thé" when they'd want a hot stimulating beverage.
Standard Espresso-Based Drinks (Common in Modern Cafes):
In urban centers, cafes cater to a more international palate, offering espresso-based drinks similar to those found in France or other Western countries. These cafes often use imported Arabica or Robusta beans.
Espresso: A small, concentrated shot of coffee.
Double Espresso (Double Espresso): Two shots of espresso.
Americano: Espresso diluted with hot water.
Cappuccino: Espresso with equal parts steamed milk and a generous layer of foamed milk.
Latte / Café Latte: Espresso with a larger amount of steamed milk and a thin layer of foam.
Flat White: A double shot of espresso with velvety microfoam, offering a stronger coffee taste than a latte. Increasingly found in more specialized cafes.
Macchiato: An espresso "stained" with a tiny dollop of foamed milk.
Mocha / Café Mocha: Espresso, chocolate (syrup or powder), steamed milk, and usually topped with whipped cream or foam.
Cold Coffee Options:
Café Glacé / Iced Coffee: General terms for iced coffee. This can vary, but typically means brewed coffee or an espresso-based drink served over ice, often with milk and sugar.
Iced Latte: Espresso and cold milk served over ice.
Other & Customizations:
Instant Coffee: Very common in homes and widely available in shops. Often consumed simply with hot water, and milk (powdered or evaporated milk is common) and sugar are added to taste.
Sugar (Sucre): It's very common to add a significant amount of sugar to coffee. You might be asked "avec sucre?" (with sugar?) or "sans sucre?" (without sugar?).
Milk (Lait): Fresh milk might be less common than UHT (long-life) liquid milk, evaporated milk, or powdered milk, especially outside of major cities. In more modern cafes, you might start to find plant-based alternatives like soy or almond milk, but this is not widespread.
How to Order (Language Considerations):
French is the official language of Burkina Faso. Various indigenous languages are also spoken. Knowing French phrases will be essential for ordering coffee in most establishments.
"Un café, s'il vous plaît." (Un kah-FEH, seel voo pleh.) - "A coffee, please." (This is a general request that could get you an espresso in a modern cafe, or a local strong brew from a street vendor).
"Un café Touba, s'il vous plaît." (Un kah-FEH Too-BAH, seel voo pleh.) - "A Café Touba, please." (If you specifically want the spiced version).
"Un espresso, s'il vous plaît." (Un espresso, seel voo pleh.) - "An espresso, please."
"Un latte, s'il vous plaît." (Un latte, seel voo pleh.) - "A latte, please."
"Avec sucre / Sans sucre." (Ah-vek sookr / Sang sookr.) - "With sugar / Without sugar."
"Merci!" (Mer-SEE!) - "Thank you!"
*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.