Learn Portuguese (Portugal): Este café é ótimo.

Este café é ótimo.

This coffee is great.

Breakdown of Este café é ótimo.

Questions & Answers about Este café é ótimo.

Why use é (from the verb ser) instead of está (from estar) when talking about a cup of coffee?

In Portuguese, ser is used for permanent or inherent qualities. By saying é ótimo, you are saying this specific coffee bean or brand is excellent by nature. However, if you wanted to say a specific cup you are drinking right now just happens to taste really good at this moment, you could actually say Este café está ótimo.

Why is it este and not esse?

Este means this and is used for something physically close to the person speaking, like a coffee you are holding or that is sitting right in front of you. If the coffee was near the person you are talking to instead, you would use esse (that).

Does the word ótimo change depending on what I am talking about?

Yes! Ótimo means great or excellent, and it acts like a normal adjective. Because café is a masculine, singular word, the ending is -o. If you were talking about a feminine word, like food (a comida), you would change the adjective to match: Esta comida é ótima.