Mauritius
Mauritius offers a diverse coffee experience, blending its own unique local coffee production with strong influences from European (especially French and British) coffee traditions, and the ubiquitous presence of instant coffee.
Here are the different ways to order coffee in Mauritius and what's in them:
Chamarel Coffee (Café de Chamarel):
This is Mauritius's own homegrown coffee and a point of pride. It's the only coffee grown and processed on the island.
What's in it: Pure Arabica coffee beans cultivated in the Chamarel region. It's known for its rich, smooth flavor, often with hints of chocolate and spice. It's usually served as a standard brewed coffee or sometimes available for espresso.
How it's served: You can find it at coffee shops, in some local supermarkets, and potentially in cafes that highlight local produce.
How to order: "Café Chamarel" or specify the grind you prefer (e.g., "espresso" or "filter" if buying beans).
Standard Brewed Coffee (Café Filtré / Black Coffee):
This is a common option in many local eateries, guesthouses, and homes. It's a straightforward cup of coffee.
What's in it: Typically made from ground coffee beans, often a blend of Arabica and Robusta, or imported varieties. Brewed by pouring hot water over the grounds, either through a drip machine or a simple filter.
How it's served: Black, with sugar and milk (fresh or condensed) usually offered separately.
How to order: "Café noir" (black coffee) or "Café filtre." You can specify "avec du lait" (with milk) or "avec du sucre" (with sugar).
Instant Coffee (Nescafé):
Extremely popular and widely available everywhere from homes to small shops, hotels, and guesthouses due to its convenience. "Nescafé" is often used as a generic term for any instant coffee brand.
What's in it: Soluble coffee granules dissolved in hot water. Almost always served with sugar and often with milk (powdered milk like Nido is common, but fresh milk is also used).
How to order: "Nescafé." You can specify "avec du lait" (with milk) and "avec du sucre" (with sugar).
Espresso:
Widely available in modern cafes, hotels, and upscale restaurants, especially in tourist areas and major towns like Port Louis, Grand Baie, and Curepipe.
What's in it: A concentrated shot of dark-roasted coffee, made by forcing hot, pressurized water through finely ground coffee beans using an espresso machine.
How to order: "Un espresso." You can also ask for "un double espresso" for a double shot.
Cappuccino:
A very popular espresso-based drink found in most contemporary cafes.
What's in it: Equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam.
How to order: "Un cappuccino."
Café Latte (or "Latte"):
Another common Italian-style coffee drink available in modern cafes.
What's in it: Espresso with a larger proportion of steamed milk and a thin layer of foam, making it creamier than a cappuccino.
How to order: "Un latte" or "Un café latte."
Macchiato:
Less common than lattes or cappuccinos but available in some more specialized cafes.
What's in it: An espresso shot "stained" or "marked" with a small amount of steamed milk or foam.
How to order: "Un macchiato."
Americano:
A popular choice for those who prefer a longer black coffee from an espresso base.
What's in it: Espresso diluted with hot water.
How to order: "Un Americano."
Mocha:
For chocolate and coffee lovers, available in most modern cafes.
What's in it: Espresso, steamed milk, and chocolate (syrup or cocoa powder).
How to order: "Un mocha."
Iced Coffee / Iced Latte / Cold Brew:
Increasingly popular, these cold coffee options are found in contemporary cafes. Cold brew, specifically, involves steeping coffee grounds in cold water for an extended period, resulting in a less acidic, smoother concentrate.
What's in it: Chilled brewed coffee (for iced coffee) or espresso with cold milk and ice (for iced latte). Cold brew is a concentrated coffee diluted with water or milk and served over ice.
How to order: "Un café glacé" (iced coffee), "Un latte glacé" (iced latte), or "Cold brew" if the cafe offers it.
Key things to remember when ordering coffee in Mauritius:
Language: French is widely spoken and understood in commercial settings, so using French terms for coffee orders is common. English is also well understood, especially in tourist areas. Creole is the most common local language.
Sweetness: Mauritians generally enjoy their coffee on the sweeter side. If you prefer less sugar or no sugar, make sure to specify.
Local Experience: Don't miss trying Chamarel coffee if you get the chance, as it's the island's unique contribution to the coffee world.
*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.