Portugal Bica Espresso
Lisbon's small, strong espresso, smooth and chocolatey, with a name that may come from a spring.
A bica is Lisbon's name for a small, strong espresso, served in a small cup. Slightly smoother than its Italian cousin, it tastes of dark chocolate, caramel, nuts and toast.
Sensory profile
You should taste
How it unfolds
Where it sits
That is 70 mg in one serving (1–2 oz shot (30–60 ml)), a concentration of 155.6 mg per 100 ml. The scale above ranks whole servings, and servings differ in size, so a larger drink can sit further right while being weaker cup for cup.
Editorial estimate, not a laboratory measurement
Related gear
| Brewing method | Espresso Machine |
|---|---|
| Coffee-to-water ratio | 1:2.4 |
| Dose in & yield out | 9g → 22g |
| Grind size | Fine (espresso) |
| Water temperature | 198°F / 92°C |
| Target brew time | 25-30 seconds |
| Serving | 1–2 oz shot (30–60 ml) |
What you need
- 9 g freshly roasted coffee, ground fine for espresso
- Filtered water for the machine
Required gear
- Espresso machine capable of 9 bar
- Burr grinder with fine adjustment
- Portafilter with a single basket
- Tamper
- Scale accurate to 0.1 g
- Timer
- Small warm cup
Step-by-step protocol
- 0:00Warm a small cup. Dose 9 g of ground coffee into a single basket, level the bed, and tamp flat and even.
- 0:20Lock the portafilter in and start the shot and the scale together, with water at about 92°C and 9 bar.
- 0:30The stream should run dark and thick, then turn the color of honey.
- 0:50Stop the shot at about 22 to 25 g in the cup, a little longer than usual, after 25 to 30 seconds. Serve at once.
Troubleshooting
What it may be good for
Caffeine, in numbers
One shot has about 70 mg of caffeine, less than the roughly 95 mg in a typical 8 oz cup of brewed coffee.
Sugar or no sugar
The legend of the name says a bica was drunk with sugar. Taste it first, then decide.
What to watch out for
- Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much is right for you.
A bica is Lisbon's name for a small, strong espresso, served in a small cup. Slightly smoother than its Italian cousin, it tastes of dark chocolate, caramel, nuts and toast.
Origin & Story
In Lisbon, ask for uma bica and you get an espresso. A bica is extracted to a somewhat greater volume than its Italian counterpart, and the Portuguese roast is a little lighter than the Italian one, so the cup is a touch smoother.
Nobody is sure where the name comes from. One story says bica is short for beba isto com açúcar, drink this with sugar, a phrase supposedly coined around 1905 in the Café A Brasileira in Chiado, where customers found the new coffee too bitter and added sugar. Another, simpler explanation is that the coffee falling from the machine into the cup looks like water running from a spring, and bica is also the Portuguese word for a spring or fountain.
A Brasileira opened on 19 November 1905 at number 122, and it was among the first places in Lisbon to serve the bica. In Porto the same drink has a different name, cimbalino, after the Cimbali machine that made it.
Portuguese coffee culture is an espresso culture, with a vocabulary of its own. A galão, for example, is a tall glass of coffee with plenty of milk, about three parts milk to one of espresso. A bica is simply the straight shot.
To make one, pull a single shot a little longer than usual, about 9 g of coffee into 22 to 25 g, in 25 to 30 seconds, into a small warm cup.
Reading the Flavor Profile
| Axis | Score |
|---|---|
| Sweetness | 75/100 |
| Acidity | 40/100 |
| Bitterness | 65/100 |
| Body | 80/100 |
| Aroma | 80/100 |
These values are comparative editorial positions within our own catalog, calibrated so entries can be ranked against each other. They are not laboratory measurements.
How much caffeine is in Portugal Bica Espresso?
One serving, 1–2 oz shot (30–60 ml), contains approximately 70 mg of caffeine.
What temperature should I use for Portugal Bica Espresso?
Target 92°C (198°F) at the group head. Too cool and the shot runs sour and thin; too hot and it turns bitter and ashy.
How long should Portugal Bica Espresso be extracted?
Timing: 25-30 seconds. Method: Espresso Machine. Ratio: 9g in, 22g out (a little longer than a standard shot). Grind or leaf format: Fine (espresso).
Why does my Portugal Bica Espresso taste bitter?
Bitter espresso is usually over-extraction: the shot ran too long, the grind is too fine, the water is too hot, or the roast is very dark. Grind a little coarser, stop the shot at about a 1:2 ratio (18 g of coffee to 36 g in the cup, for example), and change one thing at a time.
What is the difference between a bica and a cimbalino?
They are the same drink with different names. Bica is the Lisbon name, from the way the coffee runs from the machine like water from a spring. Cimbalino is the name used in Porto, after the Cimbali espresso machine.
What does bica mean?
It is the Portuguese word for a spring or fountain. In Lisbon it is also the word for an espresso, and a popular legend says it stands for beba isto com açúcar, drink this with sugar.
Who should avoid Portugal Bica Espresso?
Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much is right for you. This information is educational and is not medical advice. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, managing a cardiac or gastrointestinal condition, or taking prescription medication, discuss caffeine and botanical intake with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes.
What people say
Breville Bambino Plus Compact Espresso
In this recipe: Espresso machine capable of 9 bar
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