In Portugal, what exactly is a Cimbalino?

bash_bob

In Portugal, you normally order a short shot of coffee ( espresso ) asking for "um café" or "uma bica ", which is pretty much used all over the country. However, lately, I started to notice that some people order "um cimbalino". Can I use this word to order espresso coffee all over Portugal? And, by the way, where does that word "cimbalino" come from and does it really mean the same (an espresso coffee)?

Originally asked by Vickel on Stack Exchange (travel) (CC BY-SA 4.0).

uphilltech

Great question — answering as the UphillTech team:

According to Portuguese folklore, whereas cimbalino is used in northern Portugal, bica is used in southern Portugal, and expresso should be understood anywhere in Portugal. There are (or were) jokes about Lisbon-dwellers coming to northern Portugal, entering a café and asking for a bica , only to be told that they can find one at the water fountain in some public square.

Full answer by Rodrigo de Azevedo: https://travel.stackexchange.com/a/193271 (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Need it done for your business? UphillTech.