Guide to ordering Greek coffee, in Greece, in the Greek language
Are you planning a trip to Greece and wondering how to order your coffee like a local? Look no further! This guide will walk you through the popular Greek coffee types and how to order them to your taste speaking Greek. Whether you’re a fan of the cold Freddo Cappuccino or the strong Ellinikos Kafes, I’ve got you covered. This is the ultimate guide to ordering Greek coffee, in Greece, in the Greek language!
First and foremost, let’s go over the most popular Greek coffees that you will most likely want to order in Greece:
Popular Greek Coffees
1. Frappe
The Frappe is deemed the classic iced coffee within the Greek coffee culture. It’s made with an electric whisk from instant Nescafe coffee. Therefore it is cheap and can be easily made at home as well. You can add sugar and milk (not foamed, straight from the package) to your liking.
2. Freddo Espresso
This one is for lovers of pure coffee. Freddo Espresso is a cold espresso made from a barista coffee machine. It’s great for those who prefer a stronger, more concentrated coffee flavor. Since it has been shaken together with ice cubes, it is a bit foamy on top. You can add sugar to your liking. Most people do not add milk, cause for this purpose Freddo Cappuccino exists.
3. Freddo Cappuccino
Freddo Cappuccino is a cold cappuccino made using a barista machine. It’s topped with a layer of cold milk foam. So in short, a freddo espresso with cold milk foam on top. This makes it a refreshing choice for hot Greek summer days. You can add sugar to your liking, and cinnamon or cacao powder on top.
4. Ellinikos Kafes
The Ellinikos Kafes is the only hot coffee on our list. It’s a small, strong Greek coffee that’s sure to give you a caffeine kick. Ellinikos kafes is a very traditional one, which is prepared in a so-called ‘briki’ (metal jug). It has the coffee grounds still inside while you drink it. Also, it is used for traditional Greek coffee reading. On which you can see more info in the video below.
How to order your Coffee in Greek
Once you’ve chosen which coffee you want to order, it’s important to determine and specify your preferred sweetness level. Here are the three options:
- Sketo: This means without any sugar. Ideal for those who enjoy the pure, unaltered taste of coffee.
- Metrio: This translates to medium, indicating some sugar. If you like your coffee sweet but not over the top, this is the option for you.
- Glyko: This means sweet. But be warned, sweet in Greek means very sweet, so Metrio might be enough for most.
In Greek, sugar is referred to as ‘zachari’. Sweeteners are referred to as ‘zacharini’ but you can also just say ‘Stevia’ or ‘Canderel’.
If you want to add milk, you let the barista know by telling you want to add ‘gala’, which means milk in Greek. Oat milk is ‘gala vromis’, coconut milk is ‘gala karydas’ and almond milk is ‘gala amigdalou’.
Lastly, when ordering a freddo cappuccino, you’ll often be asked if you want cinnamon (kanella in Greek) or cacao on top. Both add a unique twist to the flavor of your coffee.
Example Orders of Greek coffees in Greek
To help you out, here are a couple of example orders:
- If you want a medium sweet Frappe with milk, you could say, “Ena Frappe Metrio me Gala (vromis/amigdalou/karydas), parakalo.”
- If you prefer a sweet Fredo Cappuccino with sweetener and cinnamon, you could order, “Ena Freddo Cappuccino Glyko me Stevia kai Kanella, parakalo.”
- If you want a Freddo Espresso without sugar you order, “Ena Freddo Espresso sketo, parakalo”.
To make it even easier for you, you can see the coffees and hear the Greek pronunciation in the video I made, below:
@tzatchickie How to order your (ice)coffee in Greece? ☕️🧊 Big travel tip for Greece >> These are the most popular coffees in Greece and how to order them. | ➡️ TODAY I welcomed my 20.000th follower 🤩 within exactly one year of Tiktok! 11-4-22 to 8-4-23 😱. Thank you all for being here. This is my favorite and most informative video that I posted last year I think. I had little followers then so I am reposting it for the new ones who missed it 🙏🏻. Anyone been following me since back then? AND YES I KNOW I APPARENTLY SAY KOUFI AND NOT COFFEE BUT 🤷🏼♀️ AND I ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE MORE COFFEES LIKE french filter coffee ☺️ #greekcoffee #coffeetiktok #coffeelover #frappe #frappuccino #freddocappuccino #freddo #freddoespresso #ellinikoskafes #coffeeingreece #howtoordercoffee #greece #greecetravel #greecetraveltips #tzatchickie #griekenland #griechenland #koffie
♬ Happy, summer, ukulele(852618) - Eternal Waves
Thanks for reading this guide to ordering Greek coffee, in Greece, in the Greek language. I hope this guide helps you navigate the Greek coffee scene with ease. Let me know if you managed to order a Greek coffee in Greek on your trip! And stay tuned for more Greece travel tips, and feel free to ask any questions by commenting below.
Do you need help planning your trip to Greece? Check out my travel guides or options for custom travel advice.
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