Colombia
Colombia is synonymous with coffee, and while much of their high-quality Arabica beans are exported, Colombians themselves have a distinct coffee culture with particular ways of ordering. It's important to note that what you might expect as a "coffee" in other Spanish-speaking countries or in the West might be different here.
Here are the different ways to order coffee in Colombia and what's in them:
Essential Colombian Coffee Orders:
Tinto: This is the most common and traditional way to order black coffee in Colombia. It literally means "ink" (referring to its dark color). A tinto is a small, strong, black coffee, typically served in a tiny cup. It's often pre-sweetened, so if you prefer it without sugar, you'll need to specify "sin azúcar." Tintos are ubiquitous, sold by street vendors with thermoses, in bakeries, and in restaurants. The quality can vary significantly, from basic and somewhat watery to surprisingly flavorful.
Café: This is a crucial distinction. In Colombia, if you simply ask for "un café," you will almost always receive a coffee with milk. It's generally a large cup of warm milk with a small amount of coffee added, often heavily sweetened. It's closer to a café con leche or a very milky latte. If you want black coffee, you must ask for a tinto.
Coffee with Milk Variations:
Perico: This is another popular coffee with milk option, typically smaller than a café and with a more balanced coffee-to-milk ratio. It's often described as a tinto where about half the coffee has been replaced with warm milk. You might even hear "perico oscuro" (more coffee, less milk) or "perico claro" (more milk, less coffee) to adjust the proportions.
Café con Leche: While café implicitly means coffee with milk, if you want to be explicit or are in a more modern cafe, café con leche is the standard term. It's generally a larger cup, similar to a latte, with a good amount of steamed milk and coffee.
Pintado: This term is sometimes used interchangeably with perico or café con leche, especially in certain regions or traditional settings. It essentially means a coffee that has been "painted" with milk.
Other & Specialty Drinks (more common in modern cafes):
Expreso (Espresso): You'll find standard espresso shots in more contemporary coffee shops, particularly in larger cities like Bogotá or Medellín, or in establishments catering to tourists.
Americano: An espresso diluted with hot water. This will give you a black coffee with a larger volume and less intensity than a tinto.
Cappuccino: Made with espresso, steamed milk, and a significant layer of foamed milk. In Colombia, like in Brazil, it's very common for cappuccinos to be topped with cocoa powder or cinnamon.
Latte: A standard espresso with steamed milk and a thin layer of foam.
Café con Hielo (Iced Coffee): While hot coffee is traditional, iced coffee options are becoming more prevalent.
Granizado: A coffee slushie, perfect for hot weather.
Nevado: A frappe-style blended coffee drink.
Carajillo: A coffee mixed with a shot of alcohol, usually rum or aguardiente (a Colombian anise-flavored liquor). This is more of a spirited drink than a daily coffee.
Important Cultural Notes:
Quality: While Colombia exports vast amounts of high-quality coffee, the coffee consumed domestically, especially the tinto from street vendors, isn't always the "best" beans, as the premium ones are for export. However, modern specialty coffee shops are increasingly showcasing excellent local beans.
Sweetness: Colombians generally prefer their coffee sweet. If you don't want sugar, remember to say "sin azúcar" (without sugar) when ordering a tinto or other pre-prepared coffee.
Hospitality: Offering a tintico is a common gesture of hospitality in homes and businesses across Colombia.
Understanding the distinction between tinto and café is key to ordering coffee successfully in Colombia.
*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.