Table of Contents
More Than a Drink
Cypriot coffee: a ritual, social institution, cultural history. Fine ground coffee in Briki, unfiltered, served with sediment. Drink slowly, conversation flows. Never call it "Turkish coffee" – political minefield.
Preparation
1 tsp fine ground coffee + water + sugar in Briki. Slow heat. Don't stir after heating. Remove when foam (Kaïmáki) rises BEFORE boiling over. Pour preserving foam. Wait 2 min. Don't drink last sip (sediment). Sugar: Skétos (none), Métrios (1 tsp, most popular), Glykýs (sweet).
With a bit of patience and the right contacts it was nowhere near as hard as feared.
– Family from Hanover, in Nicosia since 2023
Coffee Culture
Kafenío: traditional café, coffee €1-2 + water + loukoumi. Frappé: iced instant coffee, THE summer drink. Freddo Espresso/Cappuccino: modern trend. Coffee ground reading: still practiced – ask your Cypriot neighbor.
Cypriot Coffee
Topics: More Than a Drink, Preparation, Coffee Culture
CMC Practical Tip
Remove when foam (Kaïmáki) rises BEFORE boiling over.
Frequently Asked Questions
"Ena kafé métrio" (1 sugar, standard). "Skéto" (no sugar). "Glykó" (sweet). €1-2. Always served with water.
Unfiltered, with sediment, small cup, slow drinking. Fuller, earthier taste. Ceremony is slower.
Supermarket: Charalambous, Laikou (€3-5/200g). Briki pot: Jumbo/Praktiker (€5-10).
Instant coffee shaken with ice. THE summer drink. €2-3 everywhere. Highly addictive.
How CMC Supports You
At CMC Family Office Group, we are here for you – not only for tax and legal questions, but also for all practical topics of everyday life in Cyprus. Our team in Larnaca and Pafos knows the local conditions first-hand.
As your local contact, we handle: company formation and management, tax advisory and Non-Dom applications, ongoing bookkeeping and tax returns, support with authorities, and referrals to estate agents, lawyers, doctors and tradespeople.