Meaning
Coffee with a high caffeine content.
Cultural Background
The 'Kotyogó' is a legendary Hungarian stovetop coffee maker. It makes very strong coffee and is found in almost every home. Budapest's historic coffee houses were the center of literary life. Writers like Karinthy or Kosztolányi were famous for their 'erős fekete' consumption. Hungarian coffee culture is heavily influenced by Italy. An 'erős kávé' is usually an espresso-style drink, not a large mug of filter coffee. When visiting someone, it's common to be offered coffee. If you say you want it 'erősen', you are signaling you are ready for a long chat.
Ordering like a local
If you want it really strong, ask for a 'dupla fekete' (double black).
False Friends
Don't use 'stark' (German) or 'strong' (English) directly; always use 'erős'.
Meaning
Coffee with a high caffeine content.
Ordering like a local
If you want it really strong, ask for a 'dupla fekete' (double black).
False Friends
Don't use 'stark' (German) or 'strong' (English) directly; always use 'erős'.
The Water Rule
A truly 'erős kávé' in a Hungarian cafe should always come with a small glass of tap water.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing word to order a strong coffee.
Egy ______ kávét kérek.
'Erős' is the correct adjective for 'strong'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Select the correct way to say 'The coffee is strong.'
In a simple subject-adjective sentence, no suffixes are needed on 'erős'.
Match the Hungarian phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are the four basic types of coffee descriptions.
Complete the dialogue.
Pincér: Mit hozhatok? Vendég: Egy ______ ______ kérek.
You need the adjective followed by the noun in the accusative case.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Types of Coffee in Hungary
Strength
- • Erős kávé
- • Gyenge kávé
Additions
- • Tejes kávé
- • Fekete kávé
Size
- • Hosszú kávé
- • Rövid kávé
Practice Bank
4 exercisesEgy ______ kávét kérek.
'Erős' is the correct adjective for 'strong'.
Select the correct way to say 'The coffee is strong.'
In a simple subject-adjective sentence, no suffixes are needed on 'erős'.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are the four basic types of coffee descriptions.
Pincér: Mit hozhatok? Vendég: Egy ______ ______ kérek.
You need the adjective followed by the noun in the accusative case.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsUsually, yes. In a Hungarian context, 'strong' is almost always associated with the espresso method.
Yes, you can use 'erős' for tea as well to describe a long steep or high caffeine.
You can say 'Ne legyen túl erős, kérem.'
Yes! 'Erős paprika' means spicy/hot pepper. It's the same word for both caffeine and capsaicin strength.
Related Phrases
Gyenge kávé
contrastWeak coffee
Hosszú kávé
similarLong coffee (Lungo)
Fekete kávé
similarBlack coffee
Koffeinmentes kávé
contrastDecaf coffee
Dupla kávé
specialized formDouble coffee
