How to Get the Best Coffee in Lagos

It would interest you to know that although Nigerians are known tea drinkers, there are still some diehard coffee lovers, especially in Lagos.

Many corporate offices and homes in Lagos have built a codependent relationship with different brands and varieties of coffee. It is intriguing how accessible coffee is on the streets of Lagos, from large malls to the Aboki kiosk next door, and urban Cafes serving your favorite coffee in any flavor you want. This is despite the low rate of coffee consumption in Nigeria compared to the rest of the world. In fact, it is a healthy breakfast option that our short let homes never lack.

Coffee is a brewed beverage prepared from roasted coffee beans. These beans are sourced from coffee plants, a member of the madder family. The coffee beans come in 4 main varieties; Robusta, Arabica, Excelsa, and Liberica, although only the first 2 variants are grown in Nigeria. Coffee is packed with nutrients that are essential for the total well-being of both mind and body.

The best types of coffee drinks are made from the best-tasting coffee bean varieties. This can range from select coffee varieties for espresso, to the finest coffee blends.

1. Espresso

Espresso is a highly concentrated type of coffee drink: rich, full flavored, creamy, and served in small shots. It can either be 1 or 2 shots. It has a slightly bitter taste with a natural sweet finish. Caffeine presence in espresso is about 29-100mg per shot, depending on the coffee beans used. Espresso's typical texture and appearance is nicely tan, thick coffee drink with a layer of foamy crema. Fixing an espresso entails hot water and roasted coffee beans ground into a fine smoothness. It only takes 25 – 30 seconds to prepare a shot/double shot using an espresso machine.

2. Americano

Americano coffee recipe simply requires adding water to dilute espresso. This is a good option if you have no palette for espresso. The appropriate ratio in this mix can be half and half of both ingredients.

3. Latte

Café latte is an espresso drink with a lot of steamed milk topped with layer of foam. It tastes like milky coffee that leaves a luscious mouthfeel. The latte texture is smooth and light brown. To make the latte art design is simple, after you have groom and poured your milk, use a toothpick or latte art tool to make your preferred design.

4. Cappuccino

Cappuccino is the stronger version of Latte. This is traditionally prepared with espresso, and hot frothy milk often served with whipped cream. You can add powdered cinnamon or chocolate on top, this depends on your preferred flavor.

5. Flat White

A flat white is prepared by adding microfoam into the mix of espresso and steamed milk. It is similar to latte, however it has less milk. Usually served in a ceramic cup and the top of a flat white coffee is crowned with art design like latte coffee.

6. Espresso Macchiato

Espresso Macchiato or Caffè Macchiato is an espresso coffee drink marked with a small amount of steamed milk, usually foamed.

7. Latte Macchiato

latte Macchiato’s main ingredients are espresso and milk that produces light dry foam. The ratio of espresso and milk is 2:1. It is best served in a glass and prepared as a layered drink. The milk is poured into the glass first, followed by the espresso, which is gently poured using a small espresso brew pitcher, over the back of a spoon. This gentle process allows it to form a layer between the concentrated milk below and the lighter foam above (other methods can be deployed to achieve this).

8. Caramel Macchiato

Caramel Macchiato is espresso-based. It is made with vanilla syrup, steamed milk, espresso, and caramel sauce. The espresso is poured on top of the milk leaving a dark mark on top of the milk foam.

9. Mocha

The main ingredients for Mocha coffee are espresso, chocolate powder, steamed milk, and whipped cream. You can prepare at home by adding hot chocolate mix/cocoa powder into a brewed espresso and mix, then add froth milk with chocolate espresso and top with whipped cream. Sprinkle more cocoa powder/chocolate on the top and serve.

10. White Chocolate Mocha

This is a combination of Espresso and white chocolate. This Starbuck specialty can be prepared at home. Simply top your espresso with a mix of butter, sugar, and milk solids for sweet creamy white chocolate. You have to stir both hot espresso and white chocolate, add 2% froth milk, and top with whipped cream.

11. Cortado

A cortado is a Spanish brewed coffee served with warm milk which is not necessarily frothed. The espresso and steam milk should be half and half, primarily to reduce the acidity of the espresso. Cortado is served in a smaller cup.

12. Espresso Con Pinna

Espresso Con Pinna translates to espresso with cream. In a literal sense, it is a single or double shot of espresso crowned with a glob of whipped cream in a small glass cup.

Love some iced coffee during the hot seasons? Here are varieties of delicious ice coffee drinks and their special recipes.

1. Iced Espresso

Iced espresso is highly concentrated with bold flavor, served with sweeteners and ice, sometimes with milk. It’s first shaken with ice and sweetener before serving.

2. Iced Latte

Iced latte is a drink with espresso, milk, and sometimes sweetener which can be optional based on preference. You would have to froth your milk to replicate the steamed milk like a typical latte.

3. Cappuccino on Ice

Cappucino on Ice is prepared by combining espresso with a splash of sweetened condensed milk, and a touch of vanilla extract with ice. Top up with a layer of fluffy cold foam. Best for hot days.

4. Iced Mocha

An Iced Latte combines rich espresso and cold milk over ice, with whipped cream on top.. This is a great combination of rich espresso, bittersweet mocha sauce, and milk over ice.

5. Creamy Iced Coffee

This is coffee mixed with milk, proportionately, with slight sweetener and vanilla. You can choose to go for creme de cacao or chocolate syrup. Mouthlicking!

6. Iced Caramel Macchiato

This luscious creamy drink is incredible for a hot afternoons and hot seasons. It is a mix of coffee, milk, vanilla, and caramel.

7. Banana Milk Coffee

Banana Milk Coffee is a rich delicious cold brew for breakfast. The recipe is straightforward, add creamy fine banana milk to your morning cold brew and you have yourself the most delicious breakfast.

Based on the listed varieties, you can decide how you want your coffee going forwards. Whether you want it foamy like a Macchiato, creamy like latte, or a full flavored Espresso. How about adding chocolate for a rich and creamy Mocha? Or a cold Iced Latte, Iced Espresso, Iced Mocha? Iced White Chocolate Mocha or Iced Cappuccino is equally an option.

Coffee lovers in Lagos haven’t quite gained the global recognition they deserve. Nothing ever comes between these devoted coffee lovers and their precious morning coffee.

Let’s take Bankers, for instance. Have you ever wondered how they are always so agile every morning even if most of them only get 4hours of sleep? For most, their big secret is simply COFFEE. This also explains why the coffee business is quite lucrative in Lagos. Ironically being a Lagosian is synonymous with staying productive one day at a time, if not for anything, bills do not lie in Lagos.

There is no feeling as refreshing as a strong rich aroma of brewing coffee filling your nostrils, and that authentic taste of natural sweet-bitterness as you take your first sip. That rush of excitement and eagerness to dive in and chew up your tasks. This is more than a good way to start your day. This appeals to coffee-loving Lagosians, foreign visitors, and those looking to join the coffee drinking business.

Here are some of the best coffee shops and cafes in Lagos, highly recommended. Although each of these coffee shops are unique in their own ways, they share similarities in their quality international standard offerings. This includes their satisfying services, relaxed environment to work/study from, or host high-end clients, free wifi, excellent breakfast options, and more.

1. Cafe Neo

If you are seeking a Starbuck kind of coffee experience, Cafè Neo is your spot. This is an indigenous family-owned coffee roaster and coffeehouse chain in Lagos. Their great tasty coffee blends and ambience will have you coming back for more, and can improve your Lagos experience. If you are a lover of Iced Freddo Cappuccino, then search no more, Cafe Neo will more than satisfy your craving.

2. Art Cafe

Craving for great coffee, and a mouthwatering breakfast? Art Cafe is your go-to coffee shop. It is located at Victoria Island. A clean sophisticated environment, cool aura, and homely feeling adorn with great view and artworks . This place is definitely a good start for your morning.

3. My Coffee

My coffee Lagos has quite a reputation for its amazing assorted coffee flavors and pastries. Their successes include their expansion over the course of 6 years in Lagos, owning their 7 unique locations whilst maintaining a quality standard. By this, they have also known for promoting coffee culture in Nigeria.

4. Vestar

Vestar is worth every penny spent. The sweet smell of their Arabian coffee would be the first to entice you the moment you step in. And a sip of your coffee alongside their tasty pastries would make you fall in love. Try starting your morning at Vestar and your day would be as sweet as the refreshing taste of their popcorn latte coffee.

5. KaldiCoffee

Here is another indigenous coffee you’d like to try in Lagos. It’s a specialty coffee roastery and coffee bar offering the best African Arabic coffee. The coffee beans are roasted usually in small batches and served fresh. Believe me, you’ll like to try this one.

You can find other high-quality coffee shops in Lagos, located in Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki, Ikeja, and Yaba. Just type in your google search coffee shops near me and the list of results will wow you. Essentially Lasgidi has everything you could hanker for and more.

In times of coffee experience in Lagos, Gidistays is never excluded. We have taken the liberty of furnishing our short let apartments in both Ikoyi and Lekki with coffee machines and a supply of high-quality brands of coffee pods and coffee sachets. We understand you might have a preference hence the varieties. Whether you are working indoors or out, there is nothing like a cup of morning coffee to boost your morale and energy levels.