Portugal
Here's a breakdown of the most common ways to order coffee in Portugal and what's in them:
Black Coffee Options:
Café (Order: “Um Bica” in Lisbon, “Um Cimbalino” in Porto, “Um Café” recognized throughout Portugal): This is the most common and default coffee order in Portugal. It's a small, strong espresso shot, typically served in a small demitasse cup.
Café Curto / Italiana: A very short and concentrated espresso, similar to an Italian ristretto.
Café Longo / Café Cheio: A "long" or "full" espresso where the cup is filled closer to the brim with espresso. It's a slightly milder version of the regular espresso.
Abatanado / Americano: The Portuguese equivalent of an Americano. It's an espresso shot with hot water added. While "Americano" is understood, "Abatanado" is the local term, especially in the south. Some sources say an Abatanado is made by letting the espresso drip until the cup is full, making it weaker than a traditional Americano.
Café Duplo: A double espresso, meaning two shots of espresso in one cup. You can specify if you want it short ("curto"), regular ("normal"), or long ("longo").
Carioca: A weaker version of an espresso. It's often made by using the same coffee grounds as a previous espresso shot, or by discarding the first, strongest drops. This results in a milder flavor.
Café Sem Princípio / Café Escorrido: Similar to a Carioca, it's a mid-point between a regular espresso and a Carioca, for those who want less caffeine but still the coffee taste.
Descafeinado: Simply a decaffeinated espresso. You can also add "descafeinado" to any other coffee order to make it decaf.
Café em Chávena Escaldada: A regular espresso served in a cup that has been pre-heated with scalding hot water, keeping the coffee hotter for longer.
Café em Chávena Fria: The opposite of the above, an espresso served in a cold cup, often for those who prefer their coffee warm rather than lava-hot.
Coffee with Milk Options:
Pingado / Garoto / Pingo: This term can vary slightly by region, but generally refers to an espresso with a small amount of milk.
A Pingado is an espresso with just a "drop" of warm milk.
A Garoto (meaning "little boy") is typically an espresso cup filled with foamed milk, topped with a drip of coffee, or an espresso with a generous splash of foamed milk. It's a weaker, milkier espresso often given to children.
Meia de Leite: Translates to “half milk.” It's typically equal parts coffee and milk, served in a larger ceramic cup, similar to a flat white or smaller latte.
You can ask for "uma meia de leite escura" if you prefer it stronger (more coffee) or "clara" for lighter (more milk).
Galão: This is Portugal's equivalent of a latte, served in a tall glass. It typically consists of about one-quarter coffee and three-quarters steamed milk.
You can ask for a "galão escuro" (darker, more coffee) or "galão claro" (lighter, more milk).
A "galão direto" indicates you want a proper espresso shot in your galão for a stronger taste.
Cappuccino: While not traditionally Portuguese, cappuccinos are becoming more common in tourist areas and specialty coffee shops. It's an espresso with steamed milk and a significant layer of foam, similar to what you'd expect internationally.
Specialty and Other Options:
Café com Cheirinho: Literally "coffee with a little smell." This is a regular espresso topped with a splash of an alcoholic beverage, often brandy, aguardente (a strong Portuguese spirit), or a local liqueur. It's often enjoyed after a meal.
Café com Gelo: "Coffee with ice." This is simply an espresso served with a separate glass of ice, allowing you to pour the hot espresso over the ice to make your own iced coffee.
Mazagran: An iced coffee drink made with espresso, lemon juice, sugar, and ice.
Key things to remember when ordering:
"Um café, por favor" (One coffee, please) is the most common way to order a regular espresso.
Regional variations: Be aware that names like "bica" and "cimbalino" are regionally specific for an espresso. However, "um café" is universally understood.
Sugar: Most cafés will serve a small packet of sugar alongside your coffee. "Bica" in Lisbon is even said to be an acronym for "Beba Isto Com Açúcar" (Drink This With Sugar).
Milk-based coffees: These are typically reserved for the morning or as an afternoon treat, but you can order them anytime.
Water: Many Portuguese people ask for a glass of tap water ("água") with their espresso to cleanse the palate.
*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.