BICA: “Beba Isto Com A?úcar” or, “Drink it with sugar”

Every culture has their own appellation for a coffee: un caffè in Italy simply means espresso. Order a regular in Boston and you get a long cup of brewed coffee with cream and sugar. In Lisbon, Portugal, order a bica and it’s a strong, bitter espresso-style coffee, served with sugar. Why? Because historically much Robusta came to Portugal from its coffee-producing colonies, like Angola and Mozambique. Being naturally more bitter than Arabica, adding sugar sweetened the cup and so formed a drinking tradition.

My Lisbon-style coffee, however, has always been straight up – I love its inherent bitterness. For 10 years, I had the great good luck to regularly holiday in the heart of old Lisbon, a jumping off point whence I explored this beautiful country. Mornings were spent drinking my bica on a tiny balcony that overlooked the Tagus River, with all its luminosity and the vibrant, joyous colours of the houses. After the first coffee of the day on the balcony, I would wander down to the historic Café Brasilera – well before the tourists arrived – and enjoy another cup, meeting Portuguese friends or simply admiring the gorgeous architecture.

The trade winds here seem to carry the scents of Africa, far-off Brazil and Europe, mixing into a joyous collage of cuisine and peoples. Portugal to me represents the vibrant blue of the ocean, the freshness of salty winds, a healthy life with welcoming, culturally sophisticated and yet straight-forward people. I have always loved this country.

I was born by the ocean in Normandy. I love to swim in and gaze upon the sea. Lisbon reminds me of the happy purity of my childhood with its cleansing salt waters. ?

For all these reasons, I am simply delighted with our launch of Limited-Edition coffee, Lisbon Bica. Not only does this spicy, strong espresso bring me back to those peaceful moments on my Lisbon balcony, but the vibrant colour of the capsule evokes the piercing blue of the ocean. The design is a take on the joyful blue & white tiles you see throughout the city on walls, houses, even the metro. Like all our World Exploration series coffees, Lisbon Bica is our homage to a tradition: not a replica, but our expression of a coffee tradition. It is my hope that it transports you as much as it has me. #nespressolimitededitions #nespressoworldexploration #nespresso #nespressomoments