Considering coffee was only introduced into the modern world in the 1400s, it’s come to dominate the world quickly. The journey this small green bean has made is quite remarkable, with each country it finds itself in adopting their own unique way of drinking coffee.
You may be wondering ‘just how many ways are there to drink coffee?’. Well, as it turns out, a lot.
Italy – Espresso
We’ll kick off with the way everyone has probably heard of before and is most common throughout Europe. The Espresso. Pioneered by the Italians in the 19th century, it forces a small amount of water at high pressure through finely-ground coffee beans.
An Espresso often has a thick consistency when compared to coffee brewed alternative ways. This is due to the fact all the flavor compounds and natural oils are dissolved at a high concentration. Dark roast coffee beans are generally used to produce this strong, flavourful, and very aromatic coffee.
Turkey – Turkish Coffee (or Ibrik)
Ever heard of a Turkish coffee? It is also referred to as Ibrik coffee which is the name of the pot you use to brew the coffee in.
You take very finely ground coffee, called a ‘Turkish’ grind believe it or not, and mix it with sugar before bringing it to a boil. You then remove it from the heat, and briefly reheat once or twice to create the desired amount of froth. There are a wide range of different recipes. You can add all sorts of different spices and herbs so create some exciting and taste-bud tingling coffee.
Brazil – Cafezinho
The word cafezinho is more than just a coffee. It’s also a welcoming term used to greet people when they walk through the door. Wherever you go in Brazil, you will be asked if you want a cafezinho, and Brazilians won’t take no for an answer.
To make it, you can bring water and enough sugar to make it as sweet as you like to a boil. Add the finely ground coffee beans to the boiling water and mix. Pour through a cloth filter and bam, a cafezinho.
Finland – Kaffeost
The Finnish are mad about their coffee, consuming the most coffee per capita throughout the whole of the world. A huge 12kg of coffee per person per year.
The classic coffee drink in Finland is called the Kaffeost, which translates to ‘coffee cheese’. Yes, that’s correct, coffee and cheese.
You take a dried piece of cheese called juustoleipa, and place it at the bottom of a wooden cup (if you’re being traditional), where the coffee is poured over the top. The cheese soaks up the coffee like a sponge, which you enjoy at the end of your brew.
Spain – Cafe Bombon
If you enjoy sweet coffee then you’ll have to take a trip to Spain. This classic drink origin can be traced back to Valencia. Being super popular with the locals, it soon spread throughout the entire country. The word Bombon comes from the Spanish word for ‘confection’. It’s intensely thick and sugary with an equal amount of condensed milk to coffee.
With a top layer of foam, the visual contrast between the three layers is intriguing and creates an all-round sensory experience. Definitely worth a try for a sweet treat.
Mexico – Cafe De Olla
Cafe De Olla is a traditional Mexican beverage and must be made using a traditional clay pot. This isn’t just to be picky, it gives the coffee a unique flavor that you cannot recreate any other way.
There are often different spices that are used in the brewing method, the most common being cinnamon, chocolate, and cloves.
The drink originally came about during the early days of the Mexican Revolution. The coffee was seen to give the soldiers all the energy and nutrients they needed throughout the day and if they survived the battle, then they could enjoy a proper meal in the evening time.
Australia – Flat White
Melbourne, Australia, has a huge coffee culture. Anyone who’s a coffee lover needs to visit this city and experience a coffee from one of its many independent cafes. I have no doubt you’ll drink the best specialty coffee you’ve ever tried in this city, as there are many talented baristas.
The flat white is similar to a latte but more bold and textured. You take an espresso, with a small amount of steamed milk, topped with a thin layer of foam. It’s got a stronger coffee taste to it than a latte.
Vietnam – CÀ PHÊ TRỨNG
If you think the Finnish are strange with their cheese, wait until you hear this.
The Vietnamese mix egg yolk with sweetened condensed milk, until it forms a light and creamy foam, this is then added to coffee. It sounds strange, but whoever tries it often says it’s super tasty. It is sometimes served sitting on top of a candle to maintain its hot temperature, which adds to the experience of trying this unique coffee.
Final Words
So there you have it, coffee from all over the world. There are many weird and wonderful ways people like to drink their coffee. As much as I’d like to try all these unique variations, I just can’t get my head around cheese and coffee!
