Coffee to Croatians is important. No, seriously, really important.
Coffee in Croatia is more than just a quick caffeine fix; it’s a vital part of the daily culture and social scene. Understanding this can transform your experience in Croatian cafes, turning a simple drink order into an opportunity to engage with locals and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere.
In this guide, we’ll delve into the nuances of Croatian coffee culture and offer practical advice for both coffee lovers and tea drinkers to navigate the café scene like a local. Here is your guide to coffee in Croatia (plus tips for tea lovers too).
Coffee to Croatians is essential. Whether it be an espresso from a coffee bar or Croatian coffee cooked on the stovetop at home, an excellent, strong coffee is critical to a Croatian’s existence. You have no idea how big a cup of joe can be until you’re in Croatia. As one of my favorite expat bloggers, Zablogreb says,
Croatians love coffee, but more than that, coffee in Croatia is where everything gets done. It’s where friends meet, where deals are made, how favors are asked, how people are hired, fired, introduced, married, divorced, everything. Everything involves coffee.
A while back, I wrote about some basic Croatian phrases that will help you while on holiday. I also wrote a very popular piece about swearing like a Croatian, but this coffee ordering guide is by far more important… trust me!
Given that coffee has such a significant role in Croatian culture, I feel it is my duty to help you – the traveler – find your way through the coffee-ordering scene.
Skip Ahead To My Advice Here!
Coffee In Croatia: What Type Of Coffee Should You Order?
First things first, you should know that the Croatian word for coffee is kava. Sometimes, it is heard as kavu or kave due to the sophisticated use of cases and plurals in the Croatian language.
Before you get to ordering a coffee, I suggest you follow your nose, determine where the best coffee aroma comes from, and check out how busy the coffee bar is. If the coffee aroma tickles your sense of smell and the coffee bar has several patrons, you’re in the right place for excellent Croatian coffee.
The next step is to work out the type of coffee you want:
| Your Preference | Drink Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| You like lots of milk | Bijela kava | A simple white coffee (kind of like a latte) made with an espresso shot and lots of warm milk. This is the biggest coffee you can order in Croatia. |
| You like milk, but not a full glass | Veliki Macchiato | A shot of espresso with about 1/4 cup of warm foamy milk. |
| You like a small, strong coffee with a dash of milk | Macchiato | A shot of espresso with the tiniest splash of warm, foamy milk. |
| You like low-fat milk | N/A | Too bad milk is milk, and there are no skinny, low-fat, two percent, or added calcium options—just regular whole-fat milk. Never fear; you are on holiday, and a little extra fat won’t kill you. |
| You prefer a small, strong coffee | Espresso | Just a shot of coffee to get your coffee fix. |
| You hate coffee | Tea or other drinks | Perhaps you’d like to order a cup of tea. There are all kinds of herb and regular teas on offer. Other options include juice, water, soft drinks, and also a drink called cedevita, a Croatian drink in powder form you add water to, available in various flavors. |
| You prefer tea | Čaj | Ask for Čaj. Not to be confused with a chai latte. |
| You need caffeine-free coffee | Bez kofeina kava | Really? Why do you bother? Your chances of finding this outside of big touristy areas like Dubrovnik are low. If you do, I’ll make a list for those who like to pretend to drink coffee. |
| Instant coffee | Nescafe | Weirdly, some Croatians prefer a cup of instant coffee (someone, please explain to me why!). If this is you, just order a Nescafe. |
| You love lots of whipped cream, syrup, sprinkles, and other additives | Kava sa slagom | But if you want those giant creamy drinks with syrup and sprinkles, you’re out of luck in Croatia. You will find kava sa slagom, a white coffee with a glob of cream on top. |
| You like filtered coffee | N/A | In this case, enjoy your last cup before you travel to Croatia and be prepared for some new coffee adventures. |
| Free refills | N/A | These do not exist in Croatia. However, coffee is affordable, ranging from 1.5 euros in small villages to 3.5 euros in touristy areas, so you can treat yourself to another cup if you wish. |
Brands We Use And Trust
Who Is Paying For This Coffee
If you are invited to a coffee bar by a Croatian, you are forbidden to pay. Try to offer, but your hand will be slapped back.
Buy Croatian Coffee
Are you returning from a trip (or miss home) and want some Croatian coffee? Here are our top picks for Croatian coffee + coffee pots.
Croatian Coffee Chronicles: Sip, Savor, and Smile
- Let’s talk H2O. In Croatia, the tap water is as safe as a goalie’s hands in a penalty shootout. And guess what? It’s free! Forget about splurging on the bottled stuff unless you’re collecting fancy labels. A glass of the tap will do just fine, and your wallet will thank you
- Sweet tooth? Sugar packets, locally known as šećer, are a mainstay on Croatian café tables. They’re not trying to sugar-coat anything; it’s just plain old white sugar, no frills attached. So go ahead, tear open a packet or two, and sweeten your brew to taste
- Café culture here is not a grab ‘n’ go business. It’s more of a sit-back-and-let-the-world-drift-by kind of vibe. Croatians cherish their coffee time, so much so that ‘to-go’ cups are as rare as finding a unicorn at the beach. If you’re in a hurry and ask for a “za van” (that’s a ‘takeaway’), prepare for some raised eyebrows or a quest for a paper cup that might just not exist
Best Cafes In Zagreb
Here is a list of the recommended cafés in Zagreb, along with the reasons I recommended them:
- Botaničar: Recommended for its bohemian atmosphere, greenery, and cocktails
- Caffé Bar Finjak: Instagrammable décor and comfortable courtyard seating
- Divas Café Bar: Offers an elegant, artistic setting and good coffee
- Café u Dvoristu: Stands out for its arty vibe, Cogito Coffee, and secluded courtyard seating
- Booksa: A literary club and café with a laid-back atmosphere and regular community events
- Monocycle Specialty Coffee: A popular choice for coffee enthusiasts interested in manual brews and African and South American roasts
- Velvet: An upscale café known for its cakes, vintage decor, and quiet courtyard
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Best Cafes In Split
Here are my recommended cafes in Split:
- B7: Best cakes and coffee combo + Riva views
- D16: A cool cafe with two branches in Split, serving coffee made with high-quality arabica beans
- Kava2: A favorite coffee shop in Split, known for its peanut cream croissants and aesthetic, offering various coffee blends
- The Daltonist: A cafe/bar with a chill vibe, offering specialty coffee, brunch options, and pop-up events
- 4coffee Soul Food: A small coffee window with quality coffee and baked goods
- KaKantun: A hidden gem in Split’s Old Town, serving excellent coffee, including cold brew and matcha options, as well as being a gin bar
- Restoran Vidilica: Offers scenic views of Split
- Jadran Beach Bar: Provides scenic views of Split
- ZONA: Offers nice views
- Kavana Procaffe: Known for its cakes and provides nice views
So, what coffee in Croatia will you order?
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- Easter In Croatia – Traditions & What To Eat
- You Can’t Do, Say Or Eat That In Croatia
- Top Wines & Wineries In Croatia
- Check Out These Bars In Dubrovnik
- Best Places To Eat & Get Coffee In Split
- Our Favorite Travel Coffee Makers
- Is Croatia Safe To Travel? Helpful Safety Tips
May be I’ll just stick to water – although the Nescafe sounds good,
One of my abiding memories of last year’s wonderful visit was my first morning in a bar on the waterfront at Šibenik , sipping macchiatos and eating warm ‘fritules’ – and it (the trip) just kept getting better from that moment onwards!! ;)
Živjeli.
Ahhh yes, that certainly sounds like a super start to a super trip!
I think the ability to acquire coffee is a travel essential – I mean, how can I expected to do anything else if I don’t have caffeine?
So filter coffee is what we think of as coffee in the US, right?
Cool post! I’m always up for coffee, wherever I go. I hope that I can one day go to Croatia to put this post to good use :)
Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to coffee so great guide. Really useful for traveling through the country.
There is one more quite usual kind of coffee, mostly in continental Croatia – longer or extended coffee (produžena kava). It’s actually espresso but with more water, as the amount of macchiato, for example (also, in continental part we usually don’t call it macchiato but coffee with milk).
Btw, great article! :)
Ahhh cool, I never knew that. Thanks Nandino.
its just more coffie not more water in it,even tho,every coffie comes from water :)
Okay, here’s my opinion. The coffee part is fine. Usually fairly good, I guess it depends on who is extracting it and if they know what they’re doing. The bit I cannot stand is that they all seem to use long life milk (trajna). Ugh! The taste is so pronounced. I am a flat white kind of girl so I tried getting the veliki makiato but the UHT taste was too much.
Seriously it’s one of the things I love about living in Sydney. You can go almost anywhere and get a decent coffee!
Yeah now you mention it they all do – I wonder why? I can’t tell the taste difference though.
And make sure when you go for a coffee that you stay at least 2h cause drinking coffee is a ritual in Croatia ( called KAFENISANJE or ISPIJANJE KAVE)
And there’s also a tipe of VELIKI MACCHIATO called HLADNI – it’s a latte (1/4 cup of COLD milk)… That’s my favorite one cause i cant stand the warm milk in a coffee :)
EWwwwwwww I hate cold milk coffees. Hot all the way – thanks for the tip Manuela.
Veliki ,doesnt need to be with cold milk,you can also drink it with warm milf,like most of plp.
“Too bad, milk is milk, and there are no skinny, low-fat, two prevent** or added calcium options. ”
Percent**?
Great article, I look forward to trying this sometime.
Thanks for the correction Caro – I type too fast and don’t edit enough :) I hope you get to come and try it all for yourself soon.
(Sigh) the reason some of us ‘bother’ with decaf is because we like a)the taste of coffee b) the social aspect c) having a cafe stop on our travels and d) caffeine in regular shots, sends us hey-wire. Yes, I also wish it wasn’t so, by it is… So I deal with it by drinking decaf – but there’s ALWAYS people who a)make assumptions b) make negative comments or c) have the worst decaf on the planet. In Italy, no one bats an eyelid at decaf requests, and they taste superb..