While you are stuck at your daily job and still trying to enjoy the rain pouring outside with a sip of your freshly brewed coffee, let’s continue brewing to find the best coffee from around the world. Nowadays, every cafe has so many options and variations for coffee. No matter which part of the world you are in, your nearby cafe joint will have a few or even a variety of coffee options from different parts of the world.
But, I believe every place, or say every country, has its own uniqueness, be it the taste, flavour, or colour when it comes to coffee. Mainly, the climatic conditions and also the processing lead to the uniqueness of every coffee type from around the world.
Every coffee lover has their unique preference, and they generally tend to order that specific coffee type even while travelling. But, I suggest that whenever you are travelling, try to enjoy sipping the local coffee from that very place. You might not always love it, but who knows, you might add a new type to your favorite coffee list. And, you might also end up buying those local coffees to carry the memory of the place back home.
History of Coffee
Coffee was first discovered in Ethiopia and Yemen during the 9th to 15th centuries. Wild coffee cherries were first found in the ancient forests of Ethiopia and Yemen. Though we do not have evidence on how coffee was discovered, according to an ancient tale, there was a goat herder who noticed his goats ate some red cherries and were highly energetic throughout the day and night. He then tried the same with his friends, and it turned out to be really helpful to stay awake and energetic for a longer time. This news started spreading, and so did the coffee cherries.
During the 15th century, Coffee cultivation started in Yemen. It soon spread over the world, evolving from a Sufi devotional aid to a crucial worldwide commodity, a stimulant for intellectual exchange, and one of the world's most popular beverages.
From here, the trade began to gain popularity and eventually coffee became the most consumed beverage of all time.
Let’s Take The Coffee Tour
Whether you are a coffee addict or not, you will surely be surprised to know about these places that grow the best coffee. Even if you might be a coffee fanatic, I bet you might not know about these highly rated coffees from around the world.
Vienna, Austria
It is said that during the 17th century, the first coffee house in the world was set up in Vienna, so it has to be something special. In Vienna, coffee serving has its own ritual; you will be served coffee along with a glass of water. The water indicated you are invited here to pause and relax, and also drink the water to first clear your palate, and then sip on to your coffee to experience its full flavour and indulge in it with complete appreciation.
The famous coffees here are:
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Wiener Melange: A local staple, comparable to a cappuccino, made with espresso, steamed milk, and a small amount of froth.
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Einspänner: A strong black coffee (Mokka) topped with a thick coating of whipped cream that was traditionally kept warm for carriage drivers.
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Kleiner Brauner: The local version of a single espresso "browned" with a splash of cream or milk.
Rome, Italy
The people of Italy love their coffee, and also adore the tourists who appreciate their coffee. Italy is famous for its world-renowned espresso. They are considered to be the leaders in the coffee industry for generations now. Due to their fast-paced lives romans prefer strong espresso shorts.
Every city and town here has a coffee shop where locals and visitors can enjoy their coffee time. Even small villages have a routine of spending time with their residents at the coffee shop, sipping an espresso before going about their day.
The famous coffees here are:
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Caffè Corretto: Espresso "corrected" with a shot of alcohol, typically grappa or sambuca.
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Affogato: A shot of hot espresso served over a scoop of vanilla or zabaione gelato.
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Un Caffè: The standard espresso (just say "un caffè" when ordering).
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Caffè Macchiato is espresso with a splash or "mark" of hot milk or foam.
Jamaica, The Blue Mountain Coffee
The coffee here is famously known as the blue mountain coffee, as they are grown in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. The soil and the climatic conditions here contribute to the production of world-class coffee in Jamaica. The coffee is truly unique and costly as they are produced at an altitude of 3000-5000 ft in the Blue Mountains.
The coffee here is very smooth, not at all bitter, and has a mild taste that’s enough to recharge you for the day. The Jamaican coffee is one of the most expensive coffees in the world.
The famous brews here are:
Black Drip or French Press: Request "100% Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee, black." This allows the natural notes of light chocolate, almonds, and floral overtones to stand out without being overshadowed by dairy.
Blue Mountain Espresso: It is a strong, rich shot that showcases the beans' exquisite acidity and sweet scent without leaving a burnt finish.
Salento, Columbia
Columbia is known for producing the highest quality coffee beans in the world. Due to this, most of their coffee production with grade A quality is exported to the USA, Europe, and Australia. This makes it hard to find the finest coffee in Columbia except for the small town of Salento. In Salento, they reserve their finest quality coffee beans specially for the travellers to taste and have the ultimate experience of the coffee here.
The famous brews here are:
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Café de la Abuela (Grandmother's Coffee): This is a comforting regional speciality made from a double espresso poured immediately into hot aguapanela (cane sugar water), which is occasionally laced with cinnamon.
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Tinto: This is Colombia's national beverage. It is a tiny, black coffee made with a cloth filter (a colador) and strongly sweetened with panela (unrefined cane sugar).
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Chemex or V60 pour-overs: Baristas will prepare single-origin coffee, but for the most vibrant, fruity flavours, request a "Honey" or "Natural" process bean.
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Café Jesús Martín's Angela Blend: This is a popular medium-roast blend with a smooth and balanced flavour.
Hanoi, Vietnam
Vietnamese coffee is world famous due to its creamy, intense flavour and bold aroma topped with a chocolaty taste.
The famous Hanoi brown coffee, locally known as ca phe nau da, is served in a drip cup either unadulterated or with a few ice cubes and thick condensed milk. The taste is sure to make even non-coffee lovers become coffee addicts.
The slow-going social lives of Vietnamese people make coffee an integral part of their culture to spend a good time with their friends and families. This led to their experiment with the taste of coffee, thereby bringing on some of the best coffees with the bold, slow-drip Robusta beans, sweetened condensed milk, and distinctive regional specialities like egg, coconut, and salt coffee.
The famous brews here are:
Egg Coffee (Cà phê trứng) originated in Hanoi in the 1940s during a milk scarcity. Rich, silky egg yolk is whisked with condensed milk and served over dark espresso-style coffee.
Iced coffee with condensed milk (Cà phê sữa đá) is a traditional Vietnamese beverage that is robust, dark, and sweet, served over ice.
Coconut Coffee (Cà phê cốt dừa) is a pleasant combination of black coffee and creamy coconut milk.
Time To Wrap Up
There are many more popular places apart from these five to enjoy your perfectly brewed sip. For coffee lovers, coffee is much more than just a caffeine fix. It is more of a ritual to make your everyday a bit more special.
Starting from the sweet and velvety coffee from Vietnam to the strong espresso shots of Rome, every place has its unique offering through its coffee, reflecting its culture and rituals.
So, from next time step out of your comfort zone, and start to experiment with different coffee nodes. And, if you are travelling, please make sure you try the local coffee of that place. You may like it or not, but surely you are going to get the taste of their culture and living through every sip of coffee you take.