Gabon
Gabon's coffee culture is not as deeply rooted in traditional ceremonies as Ethiopia's, but it's an interesting blend of local production and broader African and international influences. While Gabon produces Robusta coffee, a significant portion of what's consumed locally might be instant coffee or espresso-based drinks in urban centers.
Here are the different ways you might order coffee in Gabon and what's in them:
Instant Coffee:
How to order: Often just "café" or "café instantané."
What's in it: This is widely available and consumed, particularly outside of specialized coffee shops. It's powdered or granulated coffee dissolved in hot water, typically served with sugar and often milk or creamer on the side.
Espresso-based Drinks (in urban areas and cafes):
In cities like Libreville or Port-Gentil, you'll find cafes that offer a range of familiar espresso-based beverages, reflecting French and international influences. These would be made with an espresso machine.
Espresso:
How to order: "Un espresso" or "un café court."
What's in it: A small, concentrated shot of coffee, made by forcing hot water under high pressure through finely ground coffee beans.
Café allongé / Americano:
How to order: "Un café allongé" or "un Americano."
What's in it: Espresso diluted with hot water. If you want milk, you might specify "avec du lait."
Cappuccino:
How to order: "Un cappuccino."
What's in it: Equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and frothed milk.
Latte / Café au lait:
How to order: "Un latte" or "un café au lait."
What's in it: Espresso with a larger proportion of steamed milk and a thin layer of foam. "Café au lait" is more general and could also refer to filter coffee with milk.
Mochaccino / Mocha:
How to order: "Un mochaccino" or "un mocha."
What's in it: Espresso, steamed milk, and chocolate (syrup or powder), often topped with whipped cream.
Filter Coffee / Brewed Coffee:
Some establishments might offer standard brewed coffee, though it's less prevalent than instant or espresso in many places.
How to order: "Un café filtre" or simply "un café" if it's not instant.
What's in it: Coffee brewed by pouring hot water over ground coffee held in a filter, producing a less intense, less concentrated brew than espresso.
Café Touba (Influence from Senegal, but with Gabonese roots):
While primarily a Senegalese drink, Café Touba has a significant connection to Gabon because the key spice used in it, Selim pepper (or Guinea pepper / djar), is imported in large quantities from the Gulf of Guinea, including Gabon and Côte d'Ivoire. You might find this in areas with Senegalese communities or West African influences.
How to order: "Café Touba."
What's in it: This is a spiced coffee. The coffee beans are roasted along with Selim pepper (Xylopia aethiopica), and sometimes cloves. The mixture is then ground and brewed, often through a filter or infused in large batches. It's known for its spicy, peppery, sometimes almost smoky flavor. It's typically served strong and often very sweet with sugar.
Local Coffee Production:
Gabon produces Robusta coffee, and there are efforts to revive and promote local coffee production, such as "Café-Alanga." If you find locally sourced coffee, it would primarily be Robusta, known for its strong, bold flavor, higher caffeine content, and good crema for espresso.
In general, when ordering coffee in Gabon, especially outside of a Western-style cafe, be prepared for instant coffee to be the most common default, and specify if you're looking for something else.
*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.