Is קפה שחור just black coffee?

No. קפה שחור is usually very finely ground, unfiltered Turkish-style coffee and can leave sediment in the cup. Order אמריקנו for espresso diluted with hot water.

What is the difference between אספרסו ארוך and כפול?

אספרסו ארוך uses one dose extracted with more water for longer. כפול means two espresso doses.

What is the difference between קפה קר and אייס קפה?

קפה קר is usually espresso, cold milk and ice, close to an iced latte. אייס קפה is commonly a sweet frozen or blended coffee drink.

Does a plant drink make an Israeli coffee dairy-free or pareve?

Not always. Chocolate, sauce or whipped cream may still contain milk ingredients. Kashrut status is branch-specific, so check the displayed valid certificate for that business and address.

Israeli Coffee Guide: Hebrew Names in English

Milk Coffees

A glass of hafuch, the Israeli milk coffee

On the label or sign

הפוך: Israeli milk coffee
הפוך קטן: small Israeli milk coffee

קפה הפוך / הפוךIsraeli milk coffee

kafe hafuch / hafuch

US English

Cappuccino-like or latte-like milk coffee

UK English

Cappuccino-like or latte-like milk coffee

What it is

הפוך is espresso with steamed or frothed milk. The milk, coffee and foam ratios vary by café.

The difference

הפוך is usually cappuccino-like and sometimes latte-like. Some cafés use הפוך, while some chains print קפוצ'ינו instead.

Common mistake

Do not assume הפוך always means latte or always follows one fixed recipe.

On the label or sign

קפוצ'ינו: cappuccino
קפוצ'ינו גדול: large cappuccino

קפוצ'ינוCappuccino

kapuchino

US English

Cappuccino

UK English

Cappuccino

What it is

קפוצ'ינו is espresso with steamed milk and foam.

The difference

Israeli cafés may use קפוצ'ינו as the formal menu name for the milk coffee customers call הפוך. Foam and cup ratios still vary.

Common mistake

Do not assume קפוצ'ינו and הפוך are guaranteed to be different recipes at every café.

On the label or sign

לאטה: latte
קפה לאטה: caffè latte

לאטה / קפה לאטהLatte

late / kafe late

US English

Caffè latte

UK English

Latte

What it is

לאטה is espresso with considerably more steamed milk and a thin foam layer.

The difference

לאטה is normally milkier or larger than cappuccino. Some Israelis and brands also use הפוך as a synonym.

Common mistake

Do not expect every café to treat לאטה and הפוך as two consistently different drinks.

On the label or sign

פלאט וייט: flat white

פלאט וייטFlat white

flat white

US English

Flat white

UK English

Flat white

What it is

פלאט וייט is espresso with less finely textured milk and a very thin microfoam layer. The coffee stays more prominent than in a latte.

The difference

פלאט וייט is usually served in a smaller cup than latte on specialty coffee menus.

Common mistake

Do not call every foam-free הפוך a flat white because dose, cup size and milk texture also define the drink.

On the label or sign

קורטדו: cortado

קורטדוCortado

kortado

US English

Cortado

UK English

Cortado

What it is

קורטדו is espresso cut with a small amount of steamed milk. One current Israeli menu specifies equal parts espresso and milk.

The difference

קורטדו has more milk than an espresso macchiato and less milk than a latte. קורטדו usually comes in a small glass with little foam.

Common mistake

Do not assume קורטדו is simply a small latte or another name for macchiato.

On the label or sign

אספרסו מקיאטו: espresso macchiato
מקיאטו כפול: double espresso macchiato

אספרסו מקיאטו / מקיאטוEspresso macchiato

espresso makiato / makiato

US English

Espresso macchiato

UK English

Espresso macchiato

What it is

אספרסו מקיאטו is a short or double espresso marked with a small amount of milk or foam.

The difference

אספרסו מקיאטו comes in an espresso-size cup, not a full cup of milk.

Common mistake

Do not expect a caramel-flavored or latte-size drink when ordering מקיאטו.

On the label or sign

מוקה: mocha
קפה מוקה: caffè mocha

קפה מוקה / מוקהMocha

kafe moka / moka

US English

Caffè mocha

UK English

Mocha

What it is

מוקה is espresso, chocolate and steamed milk.

The difference

A plant drink does not guarantee a dairy-free מוקה because the chocolate or sauce may contain milk ingredients.

Common mistake

Do not assume soy or oat milk makes every מוקה dairy-free or vegan.

Espresso, Instant And Unfiltered Coffee

On the label or sign

אספרסו קצר: short single espresso

אספרסו קצרShort espresso

espresso katsar

US English

Single espresso / short espresso

UK English

Single espresso

What it is

אספרסו קצר is concentrated coffee brewed under pressure. קצר is the ordinary short single espresso on many Israeli menus.

The difference

אספרסו קצר is one dose. קצר does not automatically mean ristretto.

Common mistake

Do not translate קצר and ארוך as single and double because כפול is the word for two doses.

On the label or sign

ריסטרטו: ristretto

ריסטרטוRistretto

ristretto

US English

Ristretto

UK English

Ristretto

What it is

ריסטרטו is a deliberately restricted espresso extraction made with less water than an ordinary espresso.

The difference

ריסטרטו is normally labeled explicitly at a specialty café and may not appear on a mainstream menu.

Common mistake

Do not use אספרסו קצר and ריסטרטו as universal synonyms.

On the label or sign

אספרסו ארוך: long espresso
לונגו: lungo

אספרסו ארוך / לונגוLong espresso

espresso arokh / lungo

US English

Lungo / long-pull espresso

UK English

Lungo

What it is

אספרסו ארוך is one espresso dose extracted with more water for longer. The result is less concentrated by volume than a short shot.

The difference

אספרסו ארוך is not two shots. אמריקנו is prepared by adding water to finished espresso instead.

Common mistake

Do not order ארוך when you want two doses because כפול means double.

On the label or sign

אספרסו כפול: double espresso
דופיו: doppio
דופיונה: double espresso menu variant

אספרסו כפול / דופיו / דופיונהDouble espresso

espresso kaful / dopio / dopiona

US English

Double espresso / doppio

UK English

Double espresso / doppio

What it is

אספרסו כפול is two espresso doses in one cup. דופיו and דופיונה are menu variants for a double espresso.

The difference

אספרסו כפול changes the number of doses. ארוך uses one dose with more water.

Common mistake

Do not assume long and double describe the same espresso order.

On the label or sign

אמריקנו: Americano

אמריקנוAmericano

amerikano

US English

Americano

UK English

Americano

What it is

אמריקנו is espresso diluted with hot water.

The difference

אמריקנו is a larger black coffee without grounds in the cup. קפה שחור is normally unfiltered Turkish-style coffee.

Common mistake

Do not ask for קפה שחור when you want an American-style black coffee without grounds.

On the label or sign

קפה פילטר: filter coffee
פילטר: filter

קפה פילטרFilter coffee

kafe filter

US English

Drip/filter coffee

UK English

Filter coffee

What it is

קפה פילטר is ground coffee brewed through a filter.

The difference

קפה פילטר is neither instant coffee nor espresso with added water. Availability varies by café.

Common mistake

Do not ask for קפה רגיל or black coffee and expect filter coffee because קפה פילטר is the clear term.

On the label or sign

נס קפה: instant coffee
קפה נמס: soluble coffee
על בסיס מים: made on a water base

נס קפה / נס / קפה נמסInstant coffee

nes kafe / nes / kafe names

US English

Instant coffee

UK English

Instant coffee

What it is

נס is soluble coffee made by rehydrating coffee that was already brewed and dried. קפה נמס is the generic name.

The difference

נס is not filter coffee and contains no espresso unless a café says otherwise. Cafés may offer a water-base or milk-base version.

Common mistake

Do not expect filter coffee or an espresso drink when ordering נס.

On the label or sign

נס על חלב: instant coffee made with milk
על בסיס חלב: made on a milk base

נס על חלב / נס קפה על בסיס חלבMilk-based instant coffee

nes al khalav / nes kafe al basis khalav

US English

Instant coffee made with hot milk

UK English

Instant coffee made with hot milk

What it is

נס על חלב is instant coffee prepared on a milk base instead of mainly hot water.

The difference

נס על חלב is still instant coffee. The milk base does not turn נס into an espresso latte.

Common mistake

Do not order coffee with milk and assume the result will be a latte.

Turkish coffee, kafe shachor, in a small cup with a copper pot

On the label or sign

קפה שחור: Israeli black coffee
קפה טורקי: Turkish coffee
עם הל: with cardamom

קפה שחור / קפה טורקיTurkish-style coffee

kafe shakhor / kafe turki

US English

Turkish coffee / Israeli black coffee

UK English

Turkish coffee

What it is

קפה שחור is very finely ground, unfiltered coffee. קפה שחור and קפה טורקי overlap in retail and menu use, although preparation can differ.

The difference

קפה שחור may be brewed in a small pot or infused directly in the cup. The finished cup can contain sediment.

Common mistake

Do not translate קפה שחור as any coffee served without milk.

On the label or sign

קפה בוץ: Israeli mud coffee
בוץ: mud coffee

קפה בוץ / בוץIsraeli mud coffee

kafe bots / bots

US English

No exact US name

UK English

No exact US name

What it is

קפה בוץ is a direct-in-cup method. Very fine coffee is wetted, topped with hot water, stirred and left for the grounds to settle.

The difference

בוץ is a preparation of Israeli black or Turkish-style coffee, not a separate bean. The cup has a visible layer of grounds at the bottom.

Common mistake

Do not drink the final sediment or assume every קפה שחור was boiled in a pot.

Arab coffee, kafe aravi, with a dallah pot

On the label or sign

קפה ערבי: Arabic coffee
קהווה: Arabic coffee name
עם הל: with cardamom

קפה ערבי / קהווהArabic coffee

kafe aravi / kahwa

US English

Arabic coffee; ask about style

UK English

Arabic coffee; ask about style

What it is

קפה ערבי can mean a finely ground blend intended for cooking, often with cardamom, in the current Israeli retail context. Coffee called קפה ערבי varies by culture and region.

The difference

קפה ערבי, קפה טורקי, קפה שחור and בוץ do not always name the same preparation. Cardamom is not universal. Strauss reported an Elite cardamom Arabic coffee product launch in 2025.

Common mistake

Ask the host or café about the style instead of assuming one recipe.

Cold Coffee

On the label or sign

קפה קר: cold milk coffee over ice
קפוצ'ינו קר: cold cappuccino over ice
הפוך קר: cold hafuch over ice

קפה קר / קפוצ'ינו קר / הפוך קרIced milk coffee

kafe kar / kapuchino kar / hafuch kar

US English

Iced latte

UK English

Iced latte

What it is

קפה קר is usually espresso, cold milk and ice. The drink is liquid with visible ice cubes rather than a frozen slush.

The difference

קפה קר is close to an iced latte, not unsweetened iced drip coffee. Sugar and the exact recipe vary by café.

Common mistake

Do not order אייס קפה when you want espresso, cold milk and ice.

On the label or sign

אמריקנו קר: iced Americano

אמריקנו קרIced Americano

amerikano kar

US English

Iced Americano

UK English

Iced Americano

What it is

אמריקנו קר is espresso, cold water and ice.

The difference

אמריקנו קר is a dark drink over ice without milk unless milk is added. אמריקנו קר is not cold brew or milk-based קפה קר.

Common mistake

Do not order אייס קפה when you want black espresso over ice.

On the label or sign

אספרסו על קרח: espresso over ice

אספרסו על קרחEspresso over ice

espresso al kerakh

US English

Espresso over ice / iced espresso

UK English

Espresso over ice

What it is

אספרסו על קרח is one or more espresso shots poured over ice. Water and milk are not added automatically.

The difference

אספרסו על קרח is smaller and less diluted than an iced Americano or iced latte.

Common mistake

Ask how many shots the drink contains when the menu does not say.

A sweet blended frozen coffee drink, ice kafe

On the label or sign

אייס קפה: frozen blended coffee
אייס: frozen coffee drink

אייס קפה / אייסFrozen blended coffee

ice kafe / ice

US English

Frozen blended coffee / coffee frappé

UK English

Blended iced coffee / coffee frappé

What it is

אייס קפה is commonly a sweet frozen or blended coffee drink in mainstream Israeli cafés. The powder, dairy or plant base and sweetness vary.

The difference

אייס קפה is thick and opaque and is usually listed separately from liquid קפה קר.

Common mistake

Do not use אייס קפה as a direct translation of American iced coffee because the result may be a sweet slush.

On the label or sign

קולד ברו: cold brew
קפה בחליטה קרה: cold-brewed coffee
חליטה קרה: cold extraction

קולד ברו / קפה בחליטה קרהCold brew

cold brew / kafe bakhalita kara

US English

Cold brew

UK English

Cold brew

What it is

קולד ברו is coffee extracted in cold water over an extended steep and then filtered.

The difference

קולד ברו is not hot espresso cooled with ice. קפה קר uses milk and espresso, while אמריקנו קר uses water and espresso.

Common mistake

Do not treat קפה קר, אמריקנו קר and קולד ברו as interchangeable.

On the label or sign

פרדו: cold espresso-based drink
קפוצ'ינו פרדו: freddo cappuccino
יש בזה חלב או סוכר?: Does the drink contain milk or sugar?

פרדו / קפוצ'ינו פרדו / פרדו־קפה קרFredo cold coffee

fredo / kapuchino fredo / fredo kafe kar

US English

Ask; cold espresso-based drink

UK English

Ask; cold espresso-based drink

What it is

פרדו is a cold espresso-based drink that may be foamy or blended. Israeli menus and recipes use the name for different combinations.

The difference

One cited recipe uses espresso, ice, milk and optional syrup. Another cited café uses פרדו אספרסו for espresso, water and ice.

Common mistake

Ask יש בזה חלב או סוכר? instead of assuming every פרדו has the same recipe.

Coffee Treats And Decaf

On the label or sign

קונפנה: espresso with whipped cream
אספרסו קון פנה: espresso con panna

קונפנה / אספרסו קון פנהEspresso con panna

konpana / espresso kon pana

US English

Espresso con panna

UK English

Espresso con panna

What it is

קונפנה is espresso topped with whipped cream.

The difference

The cap on קונפנה is whipped cream, not cappuccino foam.

Common mistake

Do not order קונפנה when you want espresso with a small spot of milk foam.

On the label or sign

אפוגטו: espresso poured over ice cream

אפוגטוAffogato

afogato

US English

Affogato

UK English

Affogato

What it is

אפוגטו is hot espresso poured over ice cream.

The difference

אפוגטו is a coffee dessert rather than an ordinary iced coffee.

Common mistake

Do not expect אפוגטו to be a cold coffee drink to sip.

On the label or sign

נטול קפאין: decaffeinated
נטול: decaf

קפה נטול קפאין / נטולDecaf coffee

kafe natul kafein / natul

US English

Decaf coffee / decaf

UK English

Decaf coffee / decaf

What it is

נטול קפאין is a modifier for coffee from which most caffeine has been removed. Decaf can still contain trace caffeine.

The difference

A café may have decaf espresso or only instant decaf, so ask which preparation is available.

Common mistake

Do not assume נטול קפאין means literally zero caffeine.

You want	Say or look for	Keep in mind
Small / regular / large	קטן / רגיל / גדולkatan / ragil / gadol	Cup sizes vary by café.
Short / long / double espresso	קצר / ארוך / כפולkatsar / arokh / kaful	Long changes extraction. Double changes dose count.
Strong / weak	חזק / חלשkhazak / khalash	Ask כמה שוטים? when dose count matters.
Water base / milk base	על בסיס מים / על בסיס חלבal basis mayim / al basis khalav	Especially useful when ordering נס.
Soy / oat / rice-almond drink	משקה סויה / שיבולת שועל / אורז ושקדיםmashke soya / shibolet shual / orez veshkedim	Availability varies. Check other ingredients for milk.
Cow-free precision-fermented milk	החלב החדש / חלב ללא פרותhekhalav hekhadash / khalav lelo parot	Lactose-free and marketed or certified as pareve, but contains milk protein.
No / little / extra foam	בלי קצף / מעט קצף / הרבה קצףbli ketsef / meat ketsef / harbe ketsef	Foam does not change the espresso-to-milk ratio by itself.
Extra hot	רותח / חם מאודroteakh / kham meod	A temperature request, not a separate drink.
No sugar / sugar on the side	בלי סוכר / סוכר בצדbli sukar / sukar batsad	Milk, chocolate, syrup or a blended base may still contain sugars.
With cardamom	עם הלim hel	A common variant for Turkish or black coffee.
To go / for here	לקחת / לשבתlakakhat / lashevet	A café may ask לקחת או לשבת?

Mix-Ups to Avoid

Milk Coffees

קפה הפוך / הפוךIsraeli milk coffee

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

קפוצ'ינוCappuccino

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

לאטה / קפה לאטהLatte

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

פלאט וייטFlat white

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

קורטדוCortado

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

אספרסו מקיאטו / מקיאטוEspresso macchiato

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

קפה מוקה / מוקהMocha

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Espresso, Instant And Unfiltered Coffee

אספרסו קצרShort espresso

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

ריסטרטוRistretto

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

אספרסו ארוך / לונגוLong espresso

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

אספרסו כפול / דופיו / דופיונהDouble espresso

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

אמריקנוAmericano

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

קפה פילטרFilter coffee

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

נס קפה / נס / קפה נמסInstant coffee

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

נס על חלב / נס קפה על בסיס חלבMilk-based instant coffee

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

קפה שחור / קפה טורקיTurkish-style coffee

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

קפה בוץ / בוץIsraeli mud coffee

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

קפה ערבי / קהווהArabic coffee

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Cold Coffee

קפה קר / קפוצ'ינו קר / הפוך קרIced milk coffee

What it is

The difference

Common mistake