Blondie in Morocco
What’s the difference between the first-timer and the regular traveller in Morocco? The latter one will rarely order cappuccino, espresso or latte.
In the Moroccan cafés, locals order two kinds of coffee, either Coffee Noir or Nous Nous. Café Noir is a small cup of espresso. Nous Nous is made from half milk, half espresso. You will not find Nous Nous name in the menu, as it is an Arabic way to say “half-half”. So, if you ask for it, Moroccans know they can serve you as a local, not as a tourist.
Of course, many Moroccan cafés have a cappuccino or latte in their list. Then, you would get the same Nous Nous, only served in a fancy cup. What I love ordering coffee in Morocco, is drinking it from a small glass, not a cup. Somehow, the taste is different.
Want neither espresso, neither milky coffee? Ask for a Caffè Americano – an espresso with added hot water. Similar as in the Mediterranean countries, where a cup of coffee always means espresso.
In Morocco, the takeaway coffee culture isn’t popular. Moroccans love sitting down in a cafe and chatting. They can spend long hours in café smoking cigarettes, reading magazines, watching TV, making business deals and drinking coffee/tea. Even when Starbucks opened in Marrakech, I rarely see people walking with their plastic coffee cups.
In some small local cafés, especially in villages, they might not have regular coffee machines. If you order coffee, you might get the Nescafe instant coffee powder instead of the real coffee. I dislike the Nescafe coffee and always ask before ordering.
Watch the video that I made with my Blondie friend Cindy! We went to a great vintage cafe place/store in Medina called Funky Cool Medina and asked our friend Mohammed to show the process of making the Nous Nous cafe. You can find their shop on Facebook, definitely worth a visit to try and buy their funky colourful clothes!
Before leaving you with a glass of coffee Nous Nous, a few words about water. In many local places, you will get a glass of tap water; in others, a small bottle of water is already included in the price. And don’t forget a little tip even for one drink.
Enjoy your coffee!
Blondie in Morocco
