Coffee is a beverage loved by many across the world, it brings together friends in cafes, teams in workplaces and loved ones at home. Consumed in every corner of the globe, how you choose to drink your coffee, however, is a different story in each place. The popular drink can be roasted for different flavours, ground to fine powder, brewed to different strengths and consumed black or milky – the choices are endless!
Travelling to new destinations will open your eyes to the local coffee preferences and there will always be a unique drink in every country which you have yet to try. To show you just how diverse the beverage is on a global scale, Lewis Spencer, coffee expert at Coffee Direct, talks us through the stand outs you must experience.
Greece – Frappe
Like the viral coffee trend, Dalgona coffee, the Greek frappe is whipped to perfection. This favourite is seen throughout Greece and Cyprus, especially popular during warmer months. It is simply made with a mix of instant coffee, water and sugar, served with ice and topped with condensed milk. The drink is commonly served in a tall glass with a straw, making for a refreshing summer treat.
Vietnam – Egg coffee
Making a great dessert, Vietnamese egg coffee is a unique drink which stays true to its name. Made with egg yolk, condensed milk, sugar and hot coffee, locals love the rich and intense flavour which is a perfect end to a meal. If you think it is best saved for a cheat day, think again. The rich combination of condensed milk and egg yolk makes for a great dose of protein.
Japan – Canned coffee
Canned coffee is a very popular drink in Japan, available at most vending machines and supermarkets. Canned coffee comes in a variety of flavours and strengths, such as black coffee and café-au-lait with milk and sugar. It is a very affordable and a convenient alternative for locals who are always on the go.
France – Café au lait
This simple combination is coffee with milk, hence the name! It is not the same as a latte or coffee with cold milk, but rather it is brewed coffee mixed with steamed milk. This is a firm favourite with locals and tourists alike due to the light and creamy taste. Café au lait has equal amounts of coffee and milk and unlike Caffé latte, it usually doesn’t have foam on top.
India – Kaapi
Kaapi is Indian filter coffee. To make this you finely grind the beans, brew using a metal filter and blend with boiled milk. The iconic feature is actually the mug as it is traditionally served in a stainless-steel tumbler and a cup that cools the coffee. You hold the cup by a rim as there are no handles and sip it whilst it stays hot.
Cuba – Café Cubano
Cubans prefer their coffee very sweet which is why their popular coffee is filled with sugar! In a Café Cubano espresso, the coffee is brewed directly onto the sugar or the sugar itself is combined with the grounds before brewing. This gives the drink an intense and sweet flavour. Alternatively, you can top it off with steamed milk and make the drink a Cuban cortadito.
Italy – Espresso
The espresso is an Italian tradition, so it is no surprise why the country loves it! Espresso is made in machines that push pressured steam through finely ground coffee beans to create a coffee which is rich and strong, with a small amount of froth on the top. In Italy it is common to have espresso with a dash of milk or sugar or even straight shots!
