How to Order Coffee in Portugal: Bica, Galao and More

Coffee is a ritual in Portugal: a quick espresso at the counter after lunch, a milky galão with a pastry in the morning, a coffee break that’s more about the chat than the caffeine. But ordering can be confusing, because names change between Lisbon and Porto. Here’s how to order coffee like a local.

Quick answer: an espresso is um café, called a bica in Lisbon and a cimbalino in Porto, and costs about €1 at the counter. For milky coffee, order a galão (in a glass) or a meia de leite (in a cup). A pingado is an espresso with a drop of milk. Pair it with a pastel de nata.

The coffee menu

• Um café / uma bica / um cimbalino: a short espresso.
• Café cheio: an espresso topped up a little with water.
• Carioca de café: a weaker, diluted espresso.
• Abatanado: a long black, like an Americano.
• Pingado: an espresso with a drop of milk (like a macchiato).
• Meia de leite: half coffee, half milk in a cup.
• Galão: a tall glass of milky coffee, the classic breakfast drink.
• Galão claro / escuro: lighter (more milk) or darker (more coffee).
• Café com cheirinho: espresso with a splash of aguardente (brandy). An old-school pick-me-up.
• Descafeinado: decaf.

How to order

• At the counter (ao balcão): cheaper and quicker. Stand, drink and go.
• At a table: prices can be a little higher, especially on terraces.
• “Um café, por favor” is all you need. See Portuguese phrases.
• Pay at the end: often at the till on your way out.

Coffee culture

• Portugal’s coffee is strong and rich, often a blend with robusta, a legacy of coffee from former colonies like Brazil and Angola.
• After lunch: an espresso is almost compulsory.
• Historic cafés: A Brasileira in Lisbon’s Chiado (with the statue of poet Fernando Pessoa outside) and the Majestic in Porto are worth a visit for the atmosphere.
• Specialty coffee shops are now common in Lisbon and Porto for flat whites and pour-overs.

Pair it with

A pastel de nata, a torrada (thick buttered toast), a tosta mista (toasted ham and cheese) or a bola de Berlim. See the best pastel de nata and Portuguese desserts.

More: Portuguese etiquette and what to eat in Portugal.

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