French Guiana
French Guiana, as an overseas department of France, shares many aspects of French culture, including its coffee traditions. While it's in South America, the coffee culture leans more towards the European, specifically French, style rather than the distinct Latin American traditions of its neighbors.
You'll find that coffee is widely consumed, often as a social ritual or a quick pick-me-up. The most common orders will be based on espresso.
Here are the different ways to order a coffee in French Guiana and what's in them:
Core French Coffee Orders (most common):
Un Café / Un Expresso / Un Petit Café: This is the standard in France and French Guiana. It refers to a small, strong shot of black espresso, served in a small cup. If you simply ask for "un café," this is what you'll get.
Un Café Serré: "Tight coffee." This is an even more concentrated espresso, made with less water than a standard espresso, resulting in a very strong and intense shot.
Un Café Allongé / Un Américain: "Extended coffee" or "Americano." This is an espresso shot diluted with hot water, making it a larger, less intense black coffee, similar to a drip coffee.
Un Café Noisette: "Hazelnut coffee." This doesn't contain hazelnut flavor. It's an espresso with just a "nut-sized" dash of hot milk or cream, which gives it a light brown, hazelnut-like color. It's similar to an Italian macchiato.
Un Café Crème / Un Crème: This is the French equivalent of a latte or cappuccino. It's an espresso with a generous amount of steamed milk and foam. It's typically a breakfast drink, served in a larger cup.
Other Common & Specialty Drinks (found in cafes):
Un Cappuccino: While "Café Crème" is the more traditional French term for a milky coffee, cappuccinos are widely understood and available in more modern cafes, usually with espresso, steamed milk, and a cap of foam, often dusted with cocoa powder.
Un Latte: Standard latte with espresso and a large amount of steamed milk, with a thin layer of foam. Popular in more internationalized cafes.
Un Café au Lait: While it translates to "coffee with milk," in France and French Guiana, this term is traditionally used for coffee prepared at home, often brewed coffee mixed with hot milk and served in a large bowl for breakfast. It's generally not what you order in a cafe if you want an espresso-based milky drink (use "Café Crème" or "Latte" instead).
Un Déca / Un Café Décaféiné: Decaffeinated coffee. You can specify "déca" before any other coffee type, e.g., "un déca allongé."
Un Café Gourmand: This is a popular French dessert option, not just a coffee. It consists of a single espresso served alongside a small selection of miniature desserts (mignardises), such as macarons, mini tarts, or chocolates. It's a great way to have coffee and a sweet treat.
Café Viennois: An espresso topped with whipped cream, often dusted with cocoa.
Café Glacé (Iced Coffee): Iced coffee options are becoming more common in cafes.
Important Notes for Ordering:
Language: French is the official language, so basic French phrases for ordering are essential.
Sweetness: Sugar is usually provided on the side. Unlike some other South American countries, coffee is not typically pre-sweetened in cafes unless it's a specific flavored drink.
"Sur place" / "À emporter": "For here" or "to go." While "to-go" options exist, a strong French cultural preference is to sit and enjoy coffee.
Local Coffee Production: While coffee is part of the culture, French Guiana itself isn't a major coffee producer. Most coffee beans are likely imported, often from Brazil or other regional producers, or from mainland France.
When in French Guiana, ordering coffee will feel very similar to ordering coffee in mainland France.
*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.