Coffees Around the World

Coffee is a hot commodity all over the world. Each country has their own way of brewing this little bean. If you are headed to any of the following places, make sure you stop for a cup of Joe at least once as you are in for a real treat.

Rome
There are so many great things about Rome, including their coffee.  Good beans make good coffee, it is that simple. But to make great coffee it takes a master to blend and roast the beans properly. Italian coffees use mainly the Arabica variety of coffee bean, known for its full flavor and low caffeine content.  Italians do take their expresso very seriously and there are a number of ways to enjoy it. If you happen to be in the country and are not sure how exactly to order coffee because of the language barrier, just say “un caffe” and you are bound to get a cup of coffee. Don’t worry, no matter what they give you, it will be good.

France
In France, you should begin your day with a cafe au lait which is coffee and hot milk (not steamed,) usually served with a baguette or croissant.  The French like to dunk their fresh baked breads into the coffee.

Ireland
When in Ireland, we strongly recommend an Irish coffee after dinner.  It is worth passing up on dessert.  Irish coffee is hot fresh brewed, with added Irish Whiskey, sugar and whipped cream. Yum!   Don’t stir the cream into your coffee! The hot coffee is meant to be drunk through the cold whipped cream.

Havana
Some have stated that Havana is the birthplace of coffee. In town, many coffeehouses grind beans source locally and directly from the Escambray and Sierra Maestra mountains, making it some of the best coffee a connoisseur can get.  Cubans do love their java and it’s evident just based on the amount of coffee houses that they have in Havana. Here you’ll find the coffee in espresso sized cups. It’s sweet, black and very strong. Don’t be put off by the size of the small cups as that’s all the coffee you’ll need to get revved up. If you are in Havana’s old town, we suggest stopping by Cafe El Escorial which is housed in a colonial mansion. You can now travel to Havana in 2016 on escorted Cuba tours and cruise vacations.

Vietnam
In Vietnam, a popular coffee drink is Ca Phe Sua Da.  Ca phe sua da is made with finely ground Vietnamese-grown dark roast coffee individually brewed with a small metal French drip filter into a cup containing about a quarter to a half as much sweetened condensed milk, stirred and poured over ice.

Spain
Cafe Bombon, like in Vietnam, this popular coffee uses condensed milk. They combine it with equal parts espresso and it is serve in small cups (similar to a shot glass.)  They pour the espresso very slowly over the milk to is makes a beautiful drink in layers.  If you are ordering this coffee, changes are you have a bit of a sugar addiction, so like the Spaniard, you can stop at a churrerias and buy churo, (a sugary stick of fried dough,) to dip into your Cafe Bombon.

Colombia
The world’s best known coffee producer, there are thousands of small farms throughout Colombia.  The rugged landscape makes for great coffee growth, but to transport the coffee beans they often use jeep or like the old Juan Valdez commercials, even by donkey.  Colombian Supremo, the highest grade, has a delicate, aromatic sweetness while Excelso Grade is softer and slightly more acidic.  Many argue you can’t find a bad cup of coffee anywhere in Colombia, but if you are visiting Bogota, stop by Azahar Coffe, Devotion La Botica del Cafe or Juan Valdez cafe. In Cartagena you can also find a Juan Valdez Cafe, or try Cafe San Alberto.

Seattle
As many of you know, Seattle is where the ever popular Starbucks coffee chain originated. One of the reasons why coffee is so popular here is because of the weather, which is often rainy and gloomy. There’s no shortage of coffee shops spread around the city and whether you are into cappuccinos, frappucinos or just a plain old cup of coffee, you will certainly be able to find it here. Analog Coffee, Caffe Ladro, Espresso Vivace and Milstead and Co. are all popular coffee shops.

Addis Ababa
Ethiopia is one of the largest coffee producers in the world. It comes as no surprise that large cities like Addis Ababa, seem to have coffee as the center of their lives. In fact, there’s a unique tradition called a coffee ceremony. It consists of an interesting tradition that you won’t forget if you have the opportunity to be in attendance.  If invited into someone’s home for the elaborate hours-long coffee ceremony, don’t stop drinking until you’ve had cup number three (called bereka), which is considered a blessing.

Other popular coffee growing regions are Kenya, Brazil, Costa Rica, Mexico, Guatemala & Puerto Rico.

Around the world around 1.4 billion cups of coffee are consumed each day. It’s no wonder that coffee is available in practically every city worldwide. For many cities it is used for more than just a morning pick me up. It’s a way of life. Wherever you are visiting in the world, stop for a cup of coffee along the way. You might be surprised at just how different it can be than coffee found in America.

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