A guide to Albanian coffee culture: espresso and macchiato, Turkish coffee, the words to order with, why a café table is yours for the afternoon and where to drink one near Durrës.
You will see it in every town: cafés with full terraces from morning to night, people sitting over one small cup for an hour. Coffee in Albania is less a drink than a reason to sit down and talk.
01What you will be served
The standard is espresso, with a strong Italian influence. A macchiato, called makiato here, is an espresso with a little milk and is probably the most popular order. You can also get a cappuccino, and Turkish-style coffee, kafe turke, served in a small copper pot or cup, with the grounds at the bottom.
02How to order
Say “një kafe, ju lutem”, a coffee please. Or ask for a makiato. Thank you is “faleminderit”. Waiters will not rush you, and they will not bring the bill until you ask. When you are ready, say “llogarinë, ju lutem”, the bill please.
More words are in our Albania travel guide.
03Take your time
A table is yours for as long as you want it. Nobody turns it over, and sitting for an hour over one coffee is normal. Bring a book or a friend, or work from the terrace with a laptop. If you are in a hurry, ask for it to go, but you will be the only one.
04Coffee at the camp
Our coffee shop looks out over the whole farm. In the morning the sun comes up over the orchards and the lake, which is the best time to sit there. In autumn we also serve our own pomegranate drink, ice cold, and you can only get it here. See what we make on the farm.
For something to eat with the coffee, look at our guide to Albanian food, and message us if you are planning a stay.
Photo credits: Sharon Hahn Darlin (CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons).
