Slovenia
Slovenia's coffee culture is a delightful blend of influences, drawing heavily from its Austro-Hungarian past, its Italian neighbor, and a strong modern specialty coffee movement. Coffee is a cherished daily ritual and a cornerstone of social life.
Here's a breakdown of the different ways to order coffee in Slovenia and what's typically in them:
Traditional & Commonly Consumed Slovak Coffee:
Turška kava (TOOR-shka KAH-va): "Turkish coffee." This is a very common and traditional way to prepare coffee in Slovenia, especially at home or in more traditional eateries. It's a strong, unfiltered brew.
Ingredients: Very finely ground coffee, water, and optionally sugar. Some cafes might add cardamom, though it's less common than in actual Turkish regions.
Preparation: Made in a džezva (a small, long-handled pot). The coffee, water, and sugar (if desired) are brought to a gentle boil, forming a thick foam. It's then poured directly into small cups (šoljica), with the grounds settling at the bottom.
Taste: Very strong, thick, and intense. It's meant to be sipped slowly. You avoid drinking the grounds.
Bela kava (BEH-la KAH-va): "White coffee." This is an extremely popular term in Slovenia, often equivalent to what many other countries call a Latte Macchiato or a large coffee with milk.
Ingredients: Espresso and a larger quantity of steamed milk, often with a good layer of foam. The ratio of coffee to milk is typically higher on the milk side (e.g., 1 part espresso to 3.5 parts foamed and steamed milk).
Taste: A gentle, creamy, and less intense coffee beverage. It's a go-to for those who prefer a lot of milk with their coffee. Important: While it's like a latte macchiato, it's best to order it as "bela kava" to avoid confusion or "bad looks".
Kava z mlekom (KAH-va z MLEH-kom): "Coffee with milk." This is similar to bela kava but typically implies a slightly higher coffee-to-milk ratio or simply a standard coffee with a splash of milk, less foamy than bela kava.
Ingredients: Espresso or sometimes filter coffee, with a moderate amount of milk (hot or cold).
Standard Espresso-Based Drinks (Dominant in Modern Cafes):
Thanks to its proximity to Italy, espresso-based drinks are expertly prepared and very popular in Slovenian cafes.
Espresso (Espresso): A small, concentrated shot of coffee. This is the base for many other drinks.
Kratki espresso: A single shot of espresso (standard).
Dolgi espresso / Lungo: An extended espresso, with more hot water passed through the grounds, resulting in a slightly larger and milder shot.
Dvojni espresso / Doppio: A double shot of espresso.
Macchiato (Makiato): An espresso "stained" or "marked" with a tiny dollop of foamed milk. This is a common and popular order.
Cappuccino (Kapučino): Espresso with equal parts steamed milk and a generous layer of foamed milk. Often dusted with cocoa powder.
Latte (Latte / Caffè Latte): Espresso with a larger amount of steamed milk and a thin layer of foam. Often served in a tall glass. While bela kava is often functionally a latte, "latte" is also a recognized term.
Flat White (Flat White): Very popular in the specialty coffee scene. It's a double shot of espresso with velvety microfoam (finely textured steamed milk with minimal visible foam). It has a stronger coffee taste than a latte.
Mocha (Moka): Espresso, chocolate (syrup or powder), steamed milk, and usually topped with whipped cream or foam.
Cortado: An espresso "cut" with a small amount of warm milk, typically a 1:1 or 1:2 ratio. Less foamy than a cappuccino or latte.
Filter and Brewed Coffees (Growing in Specialty Cafes):
Slovenia's specialty coffee scene is thriving, with a focus on quality beans (often imported and locally roasted) and diverse brewing methods.
Filter kava (FIL-ter KAH-va) / Pretočna kava: "Filter coffee" or "drip coffee." This generally refers to coffee brewed in a standard drip machine or batch brewer.
Kava na preliv (KAH-va nah PREH-leev) / Pour-Over (e.g., V60, Chemex, AeroPress): Found in specialty coffee shops. These manual brewing methods highlight the nuanced flavors of single-origin beans, offering a cleaner, often lighter-bodied cup. You might be asked to choose from a selection of beans.
French Press (French Press): Coffee steeped in hot water and then pressed down with a plunger. Results in a rich, full-bodied coffee with some sediment. More common for home brewing, but some cafes might offer it.
Cold Coffee Options:
Ledena kava (LEH-deh-na KAH-va): "Iced coffee." This generally means coffee with ice. It can be an iced Americano or an iced latte.
Ingredients: Brewed coffee or espresso, ice, and often milk or sugar.
Ledeni Latte (LEH-deh-nee Latte) / Bela kava z ledom: "Iced Latte" or "white coffee with ice." Espresso and cold milk served over ice.
Frappe (Frape): A foamy, instant coffee-based iced drink.
Ingredients: Instant coffee, sugar, and a small amount of water, vigorously shaken or blended to create a thick foam. Then, cold water and/or milk are added, and it's served over ice.
Cold Brew: Coffee steeped in cold water for an extended period, resulting in a smooth, less acidic concentrate. Served chilled, often over ice.
Customizations and Other:
Kava brez kofeina: "Decaffeinated coffee."
S sladkorjem / Brez sladkorja: "With sugar / Without sugar."
S smetano: "With whipped cream."
Rastlinsko mleko: Plant-based milk. Oat (ovseno mleko), almond (mandljevo mleko), and soy (sojino mleko) milk are widely available in modern cafes.
Sirupi: Various flavoring syrups (vanilla, caramel, hazelnut) are available.
Kava za s seboj: "Coffee to go."
How to Order (Basic Slovenian Phrases):
While English is widely understood in major cities and tourist areas, knowing a few Slovenian phrases is always appreciated.
"Kavo, prosim." (KAH-vo, PROH-seem.) - "Coffee, please." (General term, often gets you an espresso or "bela kava" depending on the context).
"Bela kava, prosim." (BEH-la KAH-va, PROH-seem.) - "White coffee (latte-like), please." (A very common and safe choice).
"Espresso, prosim." (Espresso, PROH-seem.) - "Espresso, please."
"Kapučino, prosim." (Ka-poo-CHEE-noh, PROH-seem.) - "Cappuccino, please."
"Turško kavo, prosim." (TOOR-shko KAH-vo, PROH-seem.) - "Turkish coffee, please."
"Z mlekom / Brez mleka." (Z MLEH-kom / Brez MLEH-ka.) - "With milk / Without milk."
"Z sladkorjem / Brez sladkorja." (Z SLAHD-kor-yem / Brez SLAHD-kor-ya.) - "With sugar / Without sugar."
"Hvala!" (HVAH-la!) - "Thank you!"
*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.