Today we have a guest post about coffee cultures around the world from Lucy Wyndham. This post really speaks to our travel and caffeine loving souls, so we thought it was a great fit for The Tasty Escape. Lucy Wyndham has spent over a decade working across the travel industry, including organizing and leading tours. A keen dog lover, she has now taken a step back to embrace writing while spending more time with her growing family and Labrador Benji. Enjoy!
Scandinavia is a haven for coffee lovers, with countries such as Finland, Norway, Iceland and Denmark topping the list of most coffee consumed per capita. However, coffee is regularly drank worldwide, from Brazil to Japan. If you value quality over quantity, then you need to find a place with a deeply ingrained coffee culture. Below you will find a few examples of countries that take their caffeine extremely seriously, bringing you the most intense flavors from the freshest beans. If you stop at any of these places on your travels, seek out their top cafés for an incredible coffee experience.
Italy
Italy regularly features first on lists which rank countries by their food. Whether it’s pizza, spaghetti or salami, this nation seems to have it nailed. However, their coffee culture is just as ingrained. Starting in the 1500s, Italian brewers have searched for the best methods and finest coffee making equipment
Although the coffee bean doesn’t originate in Italy, many of the drinks you know and love have Italian origins. There’s the cappuccino, named after Italian Capuchin monks, and the Americano, inspired by the American drip brewing method. To this day, Italian coffee shops are welcoming to foreigners, with Italy’s first Starbucks opening in September 2018. This Starbucks has a unique Italian twist, however, with fancy architecture and servings of pizza. This means it is still worth visiting as a tourist.
Turkey
For a different kind of coffee culture, consider a trip to Turkey. The brewing method for the coffee may be different to what you are used to, but here coffee is about companionship and community, rather than just flavor. Fresh beans are finely ground, before cold water and sugar is added. The whole mixture is then slowly heated on an open flame. It’s a labor of love, but creates a distinctive Turkish taste that all coffee addicts should try.
Brazil
In Brazil, coffee is more than just a way to wake up in the morning or an excuse to meet an old friend. It is one of their most important commodities, without which economic success would have been difficult. It has helped create a wealthy and politically significant country, which means that coffee has a special place in the hearts of Brazilian baristas.
The beans here are grown at a lower altitude, leading to a more bitter taste. However, with a bit of sugar, Brazilian coffee has a sweet and rich flavor. Drinking it in Brazil makes the experience even more authentic. This is the origin of much of the world’s coffee, so no trip to Brazil is complete without drinking it in the style of native coffee brewers.
There isn’t a place in the world where you can’t get coffee. However, how many places do it really well? Italy, Turkey and Brazil each have their own unique brewing methods, equipment and ingredients. If you are looking to expand your horizons and taste some of the best coffee in the world, then look no further than these three countries.
Thanks Lucy for sharing this great post! We LOVED the coffee in Brazil and actually became obsessed with stronger, more quality coffee during the time we lived there.
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