Macau
Macau's coffee culture is a fascinating blend of its historical Portuguese influence, its close ties to Hong Kong (particularly the "cha chaan teng" culture), and a rapidly growing specialty coffee scene. This provides a diverse range of coffee options for visitors and locals alike.
Here are the different ways to order coffee in Macau and what's in them:
Traditional Macanese/Portuguese-Influenced Coffees:
Macau's long Portuguese heritage means you'll find similarities to Portuguese coffee culture, often with a local twist.
Café (Espresso):
What's in it: A single shot of espresso. Similar to Italy and Portugal, this is the default if you just ask for "a coffee." It's strong and concentrated.
How to order: "Um café" (Portuguese) or simply "coffee" in English, or "ga-fei" (Cantonese).
Bica:
What's in it: This is essentially a Portuguese espresso, traditionally served in a smaller cup than a standard espresso, often seen as a perfect, short, strong shot. The name "bica" itself refers to the spout of the coffee machine.
How to order: "Uma bica."
Galão:
What's in it: A large, milky coffee, similar to a latte. It's typically one part coffee to three parts hot milk, served in a tall glass. The milk is usually steamed but not heavily frothed.
How to order: "Um galão."
Meia de Leite:
What's in it: "Half of milk" – this is coffee with milk in roughly equal proportions, similar to a café con leche in Spain. Stronger than a galão, less milky.
How to order: "Uma meia de leite."
Café Pingado / Garoto:
What's in it: An espresso "stained" or "marked" with just a drop of milk or milk foam. Very similar to an Italian caffè macchiato. "Pingado" means "dripped."
How to order: "Um café pingado" or "Um garoto."
Carioca:
What's in it: A lighter espresso-style coffee, made by extracting a second shot from the same coffee grounds used for a previous espresso, or by diluting a standard espresso with a little hot water. It's less intense.
How to order: "Uma carioca."
Hong Kong-Style Traditional Coffees (Cha Chaan Teng Staples):
Given Macau's close cultural and historical ties to Hong Kong, you'll find many of the same iconic drinks in its local "cha chaan tengs" (tea restaurants).
Yuenyeung (鴛鴦 - Mandarin Ducks):
What's in it: The famous coffee-tea hybrid. It's a blend of Hong Kong-style milk tea (strong black tea with evaporated or condensed milk) and coffee (often strong brewed or instant). It's typically sweetened.
How to order: "Yuenyeung" (often pronounced "yuen-young"). Can be ordered hot or iced.
Macau/Hong Kong-Style Coffee (港式咖啡):
What's in it: A strong, dark roast coffee, often brewed with a cloth bag filter, served with evaporated milk and sugar. The evaporated milk gives it a distinct richness.
How to order: "Ga Fei" (Cantonese for coffee) in a local cha chaan teng. Specify "dung" for iced or "yit" for hot.
Macanese Local Innovation:
Dalgona Coffee (Hand-Beaten Coffee / "400 Turns" Coffee - 手打咖啡):
What's in it: While globally popularized during the pandemic, there is some contention on Dalgona coffee’s origins. It's made by whipping equal parts instant coffee powder, sugar, and hot water until it forms a creamy, frothy topping, which is then spooned over cold or hot milk.
How to order: "Dalgona coffee" or "hand-beaten coffee" or "sau da ga fei" (Cantonese).
Modern & Specialty Coffee Shop Offerings:
Macau's coffee scene has seen significant growth in specialty cafes, offering international standards and increasingly sophisticated brewing methods.
Espresso:
What's in it: The fundamental concentrated coffee shot.
How to order: "Espresso" or "single espresso," "doppio" for a double.
Americano:
What's in it: Espresso diluted with hot water.
How to order: "Americano." Can be hot or iced.
Latte:
What's in it: Espresso with a large amount of steamed milk and a thin layer of microfoam. Latte art is common.
How to order: "Latte." Specify hot/iced, milk type (whole, skim, oat, almond, soy), and flavor syrups if desired.
Cappuccino:
What's in it: Espresso with equal parts steamed milk and frothed milk, having a thicker foam layer than a latte.
How to order: "Cappuccino."
Flat White:
What's in it: Espresso with velvety microfoamed milk, less foam than a latte or cappuccino, providing a stronger coffee taste and a smooth texture.
How to order: "Flat White."
Macchiato:
Espresso Macchiato: Espresso "marked" with a small dollop of foamed milk.
Caramel Macchiato (Chain-style): A sweet, layered drink with vanilla syrup, steamed milk, espresso, and caramel drizzle.
How to order: Be specific: "Espresso Macchiato" or "Caramel Macchiato."
Mocha / Mochaccino:
What's in it: Espresso, chocolate (syrup or powder), steamed milk, often with whipped cream.
How to order: "Mocha" or "Mochaccino."
Drip Coffee / Filter Coffee / Brewed Coffee:
What's in it: Coffee made by pouring hot water over ground coffee in a filter. Specialty cafes often offer different brewing methods (e.g., V60, Chemex, Aeropress, French Press) and a selection of single-origin beans.
How to order: "Drip coffee," "filter coffee," or "brewed coffee." You might be asked to choose a specific bean or method.
Cold Brew:
What's in it: Coffee steeped in cold water for an extended period, resulting in a less acidic, smoother concentrate, served over ice.
How to order: "Cold brew."
Iced Coffee Drinks:
What's in them: Chilled versions of the hot drinks, served over ice (e.g., Iced Latte, Iced Americano).
How to order: Add "iced" before the name (e.g., "Iced Latte").
"Dirty" Coffee:
What's in it: A drink where a shot of hot espresso is poured directly over very cold milk (sometimes with condensed milk) in a chilled glass, creating distinct layers due to the temperature contrast.
How to order: "Dirty coffee."
Espresso Tonic:
What's in it: Espresso poured over tonic water and ice, often with a citrus garnish.
How to order: "Espresso tonic."
Instant Coffee:
Still widely consumed in homes, offices, and very casual eateries, particularly in older establishments.
What's in it: Instant coffee granules dissolved in hot water, with milk (fresh, evaporated, or condensed) and sugar added to taste.
How to order: "Instant coffee" or sometimes just "coffee" in settings without an espresso machine.
*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.