Drinking coffee is a pleasure, and in each country, you’ll discover that this pleasure carries distinct characteristics. This article will share with you the famous coffee drinking styles and coffee traditions from countries around the world.
1. Vietnam
Vietnamese coffee is produced from high-quality coffee beans originating from diverse regions across the country. Areas like Buôn Ma Thuột and Đắk Lắk have become famous for their delicious and unique coffee varieties. Particularly, Arabica and Robusta coffee grown in Vietnam can provide many unique coffee beans, from mild and aromatic flavors to bold and bitter tastes.
Vietnamese Coffee Drinking Habits:
- Timing: Vietnamese people typically drink coffee in the morning to stay alert, or in the afternoon to relax. Vietnamese can also enjoy coffee at any time of the day when they want to chat, work, or study.
- Location: Vietnamese people can drink coffee anywhere, from luxurious, modern coffee shops to sidewalk cafés, rooftops, or balconies. Vietnamese also brew coffee at home or in the workplace with compact and convenient coffee makers.
- Brewing Method: Vietnamese people commonly use a phin filter to brew coffee. The phin is a cylindrical metal device consisting of a lid, filter, bowl, and cup. Ground coffee is placed in the filter, then pressed down with the lid. Hot water is slowly poured into the bowl, then flows through the coffee grounds layer and drips into the cup. This process takes about 5 to 10 minutes.
- Food Pairing: Vietnamese people often pair coffee with light foods like bánh mì (Vietnamese sandwich), sticky rice, rice rolls, or rice noodle soup. Coffee can also be combined with desserts like ice cream, flan, or chè (Vietnamese sweet soup).
Read more: What makes Vietnamese coffee so special
2. Italy
Italian coffee is famous for espresso, a black, concentrated, and strong coffee type. Espresso is created by forcing high-temperature water through finely ground coffee under pressure, producing a rich coffee cup with a smooth crema layer on top. The powerful flavor of espresso represents the sophistication in Italy’s coffee preparation methods.
Italian Coffee Culture and Habits:
- Timing: Italians typically drink coffee in the morning to stay alert, or at noon after meals to aid digestion.
- Location: Italians can drink coffee at bars, cafés, or bakeries. Italians usually drink coffee quickly and don’t sit long at establishments. Italians also brew coffee at home or in the workplace with modern and convenient espresso machines.
- Brewing Method: Italians commonly use espresso machines to brew coffee. An espresso machine is a cylindrical metal device consisting of a water reservoir, filter, bowl, and cup. Ground coffee is placed in the filter, then pressed down by hand. Hot water is pumped through the filter under high pressure, flows through the coffee grounds layer, and drips into the cup. This process takes about 20 to 30 seconds.
- Food Pairing: Italians often pair coffee with breakfast foods like bread, pastries, cookies, or eggs. Coffee can also be combined with desserts like tiramisu, panna cotta, or gelato.
3. France
French coffee has long become a symbol of elegance and sophistication in coffee artistry. With unique characteristics and rich history, French coffee is not just a beverage but also part of French culture and lifestyle.
French Coffee Drinking Habits:
- Timing: French people typically drink coffee in the morning to stay alert, or at noon after meals to aid digestion. French people rarely drink coffee in the afternoon or evening for fear of affecting their sleep.
- Location: French people can drink coffee at bars, cafés, or bakeries. French people usually drink coffee quickly and don’t sit long at establishments. French people also brew coffee at home or in the workplace with modern and convenient espresso machines.
- Brewing Method: French people commonly use espresso machines or French press to brew coffee. A French press is a cylindrical glass or metal device consisting of a lid, filter, and cup. Ground coffee is placed in the cup, then hot water is poured in. After about 4 to 5 minutes, the filter is pushed down to separate coffee grounds from the water. This process helps steep and retain the coffee’s flavor.
- Food Pairing: French people often pair coffee with breakfast foods like croissant, pain au chocolat, baguette, or omelette.
4. Germany
Eiskaffee is a familiar German coffee drink. It’s perfect for those who love sweetness. Eiskaffee in German means “iced coffee.” The creamy richness of ice cream floating in the bitter coffee layer, combined with sweet whipped cream and some chocolate crumbs, creates an irresistibly appealing beverage.
Therefore, Eiskaffee has conquered not only the taste buds of German people, becoming this country’s “national” beverage, but also attracts tourists visiting there.
5. Portugal
Portuguese people extremely favor and popularize the refreshing lemon coffee drink Mazagran. Enjoying this coffee drink is quite simple – you just need to pour two shots of espresso and lemon juice into a tall glass, add sugar to taste, and some ice cubes.
With the special combination of lemon’s sourness, this coffee has a completely different taste compared to other coffee types worldwide. This is also an ideal and refreshing beverage for summer days.
6. Greece
Quite similar to Portuguese people, Greeks also have a beloved coffee beverage for summer days to chase away the sweltering heat. That’s Frappé. In French, it means “chilled,” a unique foamy instant coffee drink known as a symbol of Greece.
To make Frappé, first put ground coffee in a cup, add a teaspoon of sugar and some ice water. Use a hand mixer to beat vigorously until the coffee becomes frothy. Finally, add ice and pour some cold water, and you’re done. Frappe is usually brewed quite strong using powerful instant coffee. If you’re not used to it, you can add water to dilute the coffee or add sugar for a sweeter taste.
7. United States
As a country that values freedom, American coffee drinking habits are also very liberal and comfortable. Not as elaborate as Europeans, Americans consume coffee entirely according to their personal preferences.
American coffee is adapted from espresso but with more water added, giving it a light brown color. Americans named this beverage “Americano.” Since it’s diluted with water, Americano’s taste isn’t as concentrated, so Americans tend to drink a lot of coffee throughout the day to maintain alertness and concentration ability.
8. Japan
Japanese people don’t drink coffee hastily like Americans, but also not slowly and leisurely like the French – it’s a balance between these two approaches. Additionally, Japanese coffee shops particularly prefer brewing with more “manual” brewing equipment like Syphon, V60, Chemex…
Favoring pure, rich, and concentrated coffee is a distinctive feature of Japanese people, especially among Tokyo and Osaka residents. While in America, one espresso shot contains about 9-10g of coffee, in Japan, one regular coffee cup contains about 12-13g of coffee.
Japanese coffee shops have long been considered the “Third Place” for each person, after Home and Office. Here, people can find personal comfort – a place without pressure of being a pillar family member (usually Japanese men) or pressure of being an employee in the work hierarchy machine. Japanese coffee shops are places where people can raise their true voice or where they can be comfortably silent.
9. Turkey
Turkish coffee, also known as Arabic coffee, was recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage in 2013. Unlike machine-brewed coffee or phin-filtered coffee like Vietnamese, Turkish coffee brewing method involves boiling in hot sand.
Turkish coffee brewing method is considered very elaborate, so if you want to enjoy coffee in this country, you must be patient, waiting for coffee grounds to settle at the bottom of the cup before slowly savoring. Because of this, according to Turkish belief, coffee is a beverage that helps extend conversations and chats with friends.
10. Denmark
Denmark is the world’s second-largest coffee consuming country. Danish people extremely enjoy pure coffee with fresh milk or cream, without mixing other beans or substances into their coffee.
As one of the Northern European countries with a cold and prolonged winter, nothing suits Danish people better than a hot cup of coffee at a familiar coffee shop with conversations among friends.
In one way or another, coffee culture appears in many different forms. But one thing is certain: coffee drinking culture will increasingly penetrate the lives of people worldwide. And you – which country’s coffee enjoyment style impresses you the most?
