Guinea
Guinea is a significant coffee producer, primarily of Robusta beans, and coffee plays an important role in its economy and local life. The coffee culture there reflects a blend of traditional West African preferences, French colonial influences, and the increasing presence of modern cafes in urban centers.
Here are the different ways you might order coffee in Guinea and what's in them:
Instant Coffee (Most Common):
How to order: Often just "café" or "café instantané" (instant coffee). You might also hear "Nescafé" as it's a very popular brand.
What's in it: This is the most widely available and consumed coffee, found in homes, small shops, and local eateries across the country. It's powdered or granulated coffee dissolved in hot water. It's almost always served with sugar and milk (often powdered milk, evaporated milk, or condensed milk) on the side for you to add to your taste.
Café Touba (Spiced Coffee - Strong Senegalese Influence):
How to order: "Café Touba." This distinctive spiced coffee from neighboring Senegal has a strong presence in Guinea due to shared cultural ties and regional trade. Notably, one of its key ingredients, Selim pepper, is sourced from the Gulf of Guinea region, including Guinea.
What's in it: Coffee beans (usually Robusta) are roasted together with Selim pepper (Xylopia aethiopica, locally known as djar in Wolof) and sometimes cloves. The mixture is then ground and brewed, often through a filter. It's characterized by its strong, spicy, and sometimes smoky flavor, and is typically served very sweet. You'll often find street vendors preparing and selling Café Touba.
Espresso-based Drinks (in Cafes and Hotels in Urban Centers):
In cities like Conakry, the capital, and other larger towns, you'll find modern cafes and hotels that cater to international tastes and offer espresso machine-prepared coffee.
Espresso:
How to order: "Un espresso" or "un café court" (a short coffee).
What's in it: A small, concentrated shot of coffee, made by forcing hot water under high pressure through finely ground coffee beans. It forms the base for other espresso drinks.
Café allongé / Americano:
How to order: "Un café allongé" (a lengthened coffee) or "un Americano."
What's in it: Espresso diluted with hot water. You can ask for "avec du lait" (with milk) if you want milk added.
Cappuccino:
How to order: "Un cappuccino."
What's in it: Traditionally, 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 a broader term that can also refer to brewed 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.
Iced Coffee:
How to order: "Un café glacé."
What's in it: Typically brewed coffee or espresso poured over ice, often with milk and/or sugar or flavored syrups.
Filter Coffee / Brewed Coffee:
While less common than instant or espresso in many casual settings, some cafes or guesthouses might offer standard brewed coffee.
How to order: "Un café filtre" or simply "un café" if it's clearly not instant.
What's in it: Coffee prepared by pouring hot water over ground coffee in a filter, resulting in a less concentrated brew than espresso.
Spiced Coffee (Local Variations):
Beyond Café Touba, Guinea's local customs sometimes involve adding other spices directly to coffee.
How it's made/ordered: You might find coffee with ginger or cloves in more traditional local eateries or homes. You could also request these spices be added to your instant coffee.
What's in it: Coffee (often instant or basic brewed) infused with local spices, adding a warming and aromatic profile.
Local Considerations:
Sweetness: Guineans generally prefer their coffee sweet, so sugar will be readily available and often added generously.
Milk: Powdered, evaporated, or condensed milk are very common additions, especially with instant coffee.
Local Production: Guinea produces Robusta coffee, particularly in the Fouta Djallon region. While much of it is exported, there's a growing movement to promote local consumption and potentially specialty Robusta. You might find "Café de Macenta" or "Café Ziama" which are locally recognized brands of ground coffee.
"Attaya" (Tea): Similar to other West African nations, attaya (strong green tea, often brewed with mint and lots of sugar) is a very significant social beverage in Guinea and might be offered alongside or even before coffee.
When ordering coffee in Guinea, especially outside of a formal cafe, it's best to specify if you're looking for instant coffee or an espresso-based drink to ensure you get what you expect. If you see street vendors with large pots and filters, they are likely selling Café Touba.
*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.