People the world over follow a very similar ritual: wake up, grab a cup of coffee. Where the ritual diverts, however, is in the coffee’s preparation, and sometimes its ingredients.
For instance, Pakistanis probably wouldn’t consider pepper, lemon, and cheese appropriate java mix-ins, but in other cultures these are the norm.
Here’s a breakdown of how coffee is drunk around the world.
Kaffeost – Finland – hot coffee is poured over chunks of juustoleipä in Finland. While it may sound unappealing, Finnish people adore the strange combo.
Türk Kahvesi – Turkey – roasted and finely ground coffee beans are simmered in a special copper or brass pot called a cezve. Turkish coffee is special in that it is prepared unfiltered, and so the grounds settle to the bottom. Yes, that means you drink it with the grounds.
Yuanyang – Malaysia – this deliciously powerful drink, which can be served hot or cold, is three parts black coffee and seven parts Hong Kong-style milk tea, a mix of black tea and milk.
Flat White – Australia – similar to a latte though smaller in volume, this Aussie fave is made by pouring microfoam over a shot of espresso.
Frappé – Greece – invented by a Nescafé representative in 1957, the frappé is a popular summer beverage in Greece, consisting of iced instant coffee drowned in milk foam.
Espresso Romano – Italy – a true, Italian espresso comes with a slice of lemon, which is said to bring out the java’s sweeter flavours.
Cà phê ?á – Vietnam – known to be both very sweet and very strong, this Vietnamese iced coffee is made with coarsely ground dark roast coffee, which is brewed straight into a cup of condensed milk and ice through a French drip filter.
Café de Olla – Mexico – simmered with a cinnamon stick, traditional Mexican coffee uses piloncillo and is served in a clay mug, which locals believe brings out coffee’s flavours.
Café Touba – Senegal – this drink is flavoured with Guinea pepper and occasionally cloves. The spices are mixed in with the coffee beans and roasted, then ground and filtered for a coffee with a kick.
Cafezinho – Brazil – while many consider the caipirinha Brazil’s national drink, cafezinho is by far the most popular drink for locals. Similar to an espresso, cafezinhos are small, strong cups of java. The only difference is that cafezinhos are pre-sweetened, generally brewed straight with the sugar.
Cafe Bombon – Spain – for those who enjoy their coffee on the sweeter side, Spain’s cafe bombon is sure to please. Intensely thick and sugary, an equal amount of condensed milk is stirred into black coffee.
Irish Coffee – Ireland – this coffee-cocktail hybrid consists of hot coffee, Irish whiskey, and sugar, and is topped with a thick cream.
Wiener Mélange – Austria – similar to a cappuccino, this drink is espresso topped with steamed milk and milk foam, and oftentimes some whipped cream and cocoa powder.
Café au lait – France – the French love to take their morning drink with equal parts steamed milk and freshly brewed coffee. The trick here is to serve it in a big cup – to make for easy croissant dipping.
Spiced coffee – Morocco – this fragrant blend of dark coffee melds together warm spices like cardamom, black pepper, cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg.
Café Cubano – Cuba – it may be small but it is strong – a café Cubano is espresso brewed with sugar.