Between a bica and a Bom Dia

Olá a todos! Aqui é a Anita.

Today I wanted to tell you a bit more about the different things about coffee in Portugal. As in many countries, here the coffee is a ritual, not just the preparation of it, but the whole moment.

You walk into a café, say a quick “bom dia”, order a bica, and stand at the counter. No rush, but also no overthinking. Just a few seconds, a sip, maybe a couple of words with the person next to you. And then your day continues.

I think that’s what I love the most. How something so small becomes part of your day without trying too hard.

A bica here is strong, simple, almost like a reset button. Sometimes you go for a galão if you want something softer, or a pingado if you’re somewhere in between. But it’s never complicated.

People don’t stay for hours (well… sometimes if we chat too much we do), but most of the time it’s quick, standing, almost automatic. And yet, it feels social. Close. Familiar.

I realized that these little moments are where you start to feel part of a place. Not when everything is perfect, just when things become natural.

Like ordering your coffee without thinking.

Like knowing you’ll probably come back to the same spot tomorrow.

Like hearing the same sounds, the same rhythm, every day.

Maybe that’s what living in Portugal feels like, in a way. 

Simple things, done many times, until they start to feel like yours 🧡