Fogo is known for its wine, but coffee may be the island's quieter triumph. It grows on the misty upper slopes in mineral-rich volcanic soil, is picked and processed by hand on family plots, and makes the lightest and most useful souvenir you can carry home from Cape Verde.
How and where it grows
Coffee needs altitude, moisture and good soil, and Fogo has all three on its northern and eastern slopes, particularly around Mosteiros. Trade-wind cloud piles up against the mountain and waters the plantations, while the volcanic soil supplies minerals. Production is small-scale and largely by hand, on family plots interplanted with fruit trees.
Because the plots are small and scattered, Fogo coffee rarely leaves the country in quantity. Most of what is grown is drunk in Cape Verde, which is why it is worth buying on the island rather than looking for it at home.
What it tastes like
Expect a soft, rounded cup: low acidity, mild chocolate and nut notes, and a gentle finish. It is usually roasted fairly dark locally, and it is served strong and short in cafés, often with plenty of sugar. If you like bright, fruity speciality coffee, this is not that; if you like a comfortable everyday cup, it is excellent.
Where to try and buy it
- Cafés in São Filipe serve it all day.
- Guesthouses in Chã das Caldeiras almost always pour it at breakfast.
- Small shops and cooperatives sell beans at prices well below the resorts on Sal and Boa Vista.
- Buy whole beans if you can, and ask when they were roasted.
Prices at source are a fraction of what the resort shops charge; see money and costs.
Coffee, wine and cheese
Fogo's produce works as a set: wine from the crater, coffee from the northern slopes and goat's cheese made in the villages, often served together at guesthouse dinners. If you are climbing Pico do Fogo, the evening before is the moment to try all three.
Fogo tours and tastings
Prices, times and availability are shown on GetYourGuide. Many tours offer free cancellation.
Fogo island and crater tours
- Chã das Caldeiras and the lava fields
- Local guides
- Day trips from São Filipe
Pico do Fogo summit hike
- Guided climb from Chã das Caldeiras
- About 3 hours to the top
- Fast descent on volcanic ash
Affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. How this works.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cape Verde known for coffee?
Fogo is. Coffee grows on the island's misty northern and eastern slopes, especially around Mosteiros, in volcanic soil watered by trade-wind cloud.
What does Fogo coffee taste like?
Soft and rounded: low acidity, mild chocolate and nut notes and a gentle finish. It is an everyday coffee of good quality rather than a bright speciality bean.
Where can you buy Fogo coffee?
At small shops and cooperatives in São Filipe and Mosteiros, in crater guesthouses, and at the airport. Buying at source is cheaper and fresher.
Is Fogo coffee a good souvenir?
It is one of the best: light, packable, inexpensive at source and grown on the island. Grogue and Fogo wine are heavier and need checked luggage.
Can you visit a coffee plantation on Fogo?
Small family plots are scattered around Mosteiros and the northern slopes. There is no large visitor centre; ask locally or through your guesthouse, and a guide can usually arrange a visit.