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Table of Contents
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Table of Contents
Contents
By
Ru Chen
Key Takeaways
Coffee has transcended from a beverage into a cultural phenomenon around the world. It can be found in unique, traditional ceremonies and modern social media trends. Coffee flourishes in restaurants, bars, and cafes in rural and urban areas everywhere.
From the streets of Tokyo to the cafes of Rome, coffee is a cultural phenomenon with centuries of rich history. Let’s dive into the fascinating world of diverse coffee customs and cultures.
The first coffee is believed to have been found in Ethiopia back in the 9th century. Today, millions of Ethiopians participate in the cultivation and harvest of coffee. Coffee is deeply ingrained into Ethiopian culture, with plenty of traditions, sayings, and appliances specifically for coffee.
Legends say that coffee was first discovered by Kaldi, a goat farmer. One day, he noticed his goats were jumping around and baying unusually. He found nearby red cherries, and tried them himself to see their effects. The coffee cherries ended up giving him a wave of energy.
Upon bringing his newly discovered cherry to others, Kaldi was disappointed that not everyone liked it. A monk at the monastery threw the cherries into a fire. However, once the roasted cherry aroma came from the fire, reaching the monk, the monk changed his mind.
In a traditional Ethiopian ceremony, coffee serves as a bright symbol of hospitality and community. Coffee is roasted, brewed, and served with complex rituals. To be invited to a coffee ceremony is to be a welcome friend. On the other hand, making coffee at home without ceremony is relatively unusual in Ethiopia.
The Habesha coffee ceremony is a core custom in Ethiopia. It involves serving coffee daily as a way to get together with family and friends, visitors and neighbors. The coffee helps foster connections among family and friends. Loose grass is spread on the floor, often decorated with beautiful yellow flowers. The woman of the household performs the ceremony, brewing the coffee by hand (typically using a wooden mortar and pestle).
The grounds are brewed thrice. People may choose to burn incense during the coffee ceremony. Coffee is often consumed with sugar, salt, or traditional butter. It pairs well in Ethiopia with popcorn, peanuts, and ambasha (celebration bread).
With the prevalence of coffee in Ethiopian culture, many coffee sayings are commonly used in daily life. One common saying is buna dabo naw – “coffee is our bread”.This succinctly expresses the importance of coffee in Ethiopia.
“Coffee and love taste best when hot” is another Ethiopian coffee saying. Coffee is closely linked with love, family, friends, culture, and history. Meanwhile, if someone doesn’t have anyone to drink coffee with, they are essentially saying they don’t have friends.
Oh, Italy – the home of the espresso. Coffee has been a cornerstone of Italian culture since it was introduced in the 1500s. Around 90% of Italians drink some type of coffee every single day.
These days, coffee is commonly drunk throughout the day as part of daily rituals. People drink a cappuccino with breakfast, a macchiato in the afternoon, and espresso after dinner.
People in Italy often drink coffee at coffee “bars”. Most Italians consume coffee standing up at the bar counter (AKA al banco).
If you want the coffee served to your table, it will cost significantly more.
Even in Italy, coffee culture and traditions vary. Throughout Italy, you can find the delicious caffè marocchino. It is made by adding cocoa powder and foamed milk to espresso. Sometimes confused with mocha, the marocchino is based on the bicerin. In Southern Italy, around Turin, you can order marocchino by asking the barista for an espressino. However, if you try ordering an espressino in the North of Italy, baristas will likely be confused.
Un caffè: By ordering a cup of caffè in Italy, you will be automatically brought a cup of espresso. Espresso and caffè are interchangeably used in Italy, which often results in tourists accidentally ordering black coffee. When you want coffee with milk, order a macchiato instead.
Cappuccino: Only consumed as a morning brew. Italians don’t usually drink cappuccino at any other time of the day, so if you order a cappuccino after 11 AM, expect others to assume you are a foreigner.
Macchiato: Caffè macchiato is espresso with a spoonful of milk foam, essentially like what North Americans call lattes.
Latte: NOT coffee! In Italy, if you simply order a latte, you will receive a glass of milk – not a drop of caffeine.
Caffè decaffeinato: Some may order a decaffeinated espresso or tea instead if they’re trying to avoid coffee jitters.
Caffè corretto: A “corrected” espresso has been mixed with brandy.
In Turkey, coffee is consumed in traditional ceremonies and rituals. It is known for its strong flavors and special preparation methods.
Turkish coffee emphasizes technique, with coffee going unfiltered and unbrewed. Instead, Turkish coffee is boiled or cooked. Special pots made of copper or brass, called cezve, are used to prepare the coffee.
Coffee is often served with candy and desserts on the side. Popular choices include Turkish delights, chocolate, baklava, and lokum. Coffee also comes with a cup of water that helps cleanse the palate before people drink the coffee itself. While drinking the water, the grounds cool down and sink to the bottom of the cup.
Turkish coffee plays an important role in bringing people together. It’s not a simple drink to be had in transit or when rushing through your day. Instead, family and friends take time to linger and converse, slowly savoring the beverage together.
While Japan is renowned for its tea, the country is globally ranked 3rd-4th in terms of coffee consumption. Just as Japan has a meticulous approach to other facets of life, coffee brewing and serving are viewed as a craft.
Coffee first entered Japan through Dutch and Portuguese merchants in the 19th century. Japanese coffee makers pioneered hand-brewing and other techniques. After the Ueshima canned coffee was invented, it launched a coffee craze after the Second World War. In post-war Japan, cafes played an integral role in modernizing Japanese society, acting as meeting places for progressive youths.
In 1996, the first international Starbucks location was opened in Japan. Since then, plenty more coffee shops and coffee houses have opened up. Today, coffee is popular all across Japan.
Even though kissaten directly translates to tea drinking shop, people drink coffee at these traditional coffee shops. They offer a cozy, retro, and dark ambience for people to enjoy their coffee beverages. Walk into any Japanese kissaten and you can expect to hear jazz and smell the shop’s aromatic dark roast.
Coffee isn’t just a humble cup of joe anymore, but a sophisticated experience. One that values precision, attention to detail, and craftsmanship.
When serving coffee in Japan, the spoon handle faces the right, with the cup handle to the left of the drinker.
Pour-over: The Japanese pour-over coffee method emphasizes careful control of water temperature and pouring technique. Many Japanese people favor the iconic Hario V60 dripper to brew coffee at home.
Siphon: Siphon coffee is quite popular in Japan. It involves heating water in the lower chamber of a siphon, which creates steam that pushes water up. This water mixes with coffee grounds, resulting in a tasty brew.
As Japan’s coffee culture thrives with people of all ages, specialty cafes have begun showcasing innovative brewing methods and aesthetic experiences. You can easily find photogenic coffee shops that sell themed latte arts and special brews.
Brazil is one of the largest producers and exporters of coffee beans in the world. The country has plenty of traditional coffee farms, known as fazendas. There, coffee is cultivated and harvested using a mix of modern and traditional methods.
French settlers coming to Pará first introduced coffee to Brazil. It quickly overtook sugarcane as Brazil’s leading export, with the fertile soils of São Paolo and Rio de Janeiro producing incredible amounts of coffee. Brazil has held the title of top coffee producer for over a hundred years.
Brazilian specialty coffee is adored for its well-rounded sweetness, acidity, and body. It’s easy and delicious to drink, while also providing excellent consistency for brewers and baristas. Most local Brazilians drink coffee black with plenty of sugar.
Brazilians prefer pure coffee, which is why they often stay away from extra ingredients in their coffee. The most accepted creamer is média (milk), though creamer is rarely used.
Cafézinho (Portuguese for “little coffee”) is a strong and sweetened coffee in Brazil. Both a beverage and a ritual, cafezinho is so often served as a gesture of hospitality that it is synonymous with “welcome”. If you’ve been offered cafezinho, it is considered rude to deny it, especially if you are a house guest.
Cafezinho can also be taken at any time of the day and for any occasion as an everyday coffee. When you’re visiting restaurants, gas stations, and other common places, you can often get a cup of coffee free of charge.
Australia has a vibrant coffee scene that is characterized by a focus on specialty coffee. Melbourne is often called the capital of coffee, and you can find high-quality coffee throughout Australia.
The third wave of coffee emphasizes high quality coffee. This movement has grown tremendously popular in Australia, with roasters sourcing distinctive beans from individual farms.
You can easily find artisanal cafes with skilled baristas and a preference for high-quality, single-origin beans. Locals enjoy getting coffee at independent cafes, with over 90% of Australian coffee shops being independently owned. You can obtain unique brews on every street corner.
During the Second World War, Italian immigrants brought coffee to Australia. It became quickly popular in Sydney, which had a high concentration of italian immigrants. Since then, coffee has become a popular Australian beverage. It’s so ubiquitous that socialization often starts with a casual hey, want to grab coffee together?
Flat white: Traditionally served in a 6 ounce cup, the iconic Australian flat white involves pouring steamed milk over a shot of espresso. Flat whites have a smooth and velvety mouthfeel, and are the favored coffee of many Australians.
Magic coffee: This type of coffee originated in Melbourne, trending with its magical ratio of coffee to milk. It’s similar to a flat white, except ristretto is used in lieu of espresso.
Short black: The short black espresso is considered a benchmark for quality Australian coffee. You can find it on any cafe menu in Australia.
Long black: This is the Australian Americano. It’s made by adding espresso to a cup of hot water, which creates a strong, rich coffee. It’s excellent for those who want to drink coffee without milk.
Coffee plays the role of cultural cornerstone across different countries. Coffee fosters friendships and bonds in places like Ethiopia and Turkey. High quality espresso can be found in Italy and Australia. Special brewing methods, cafes, and customs are enjoyed in Japan, while Brazil enjoys a lucrative and culturally significant connection with coffee.
Nearly every culture in the world has a nuanced relationship with coffee, including its own rituals and traditions. It is a widespread social, culinary, and cultural phenomenon, uniting people across borders and generations. It’s truly wonderful that coffee can be enjoyed around the world.
We invite you to celebrate and explore the richness of coffee together. Try out specialty single-origin coffees by joining a [coffee club](favy.com/coffee-clubs) today. Coffee clubs can deliver fresh roast straight to your doorstep. Some of the best coffee clubs for coffees around the world include:
Ru Chen
Content Writer
Ru Chen is a content writer with several years of experience in creating engaging and well-researched articles. She mostly writes about coffee, business, digital marketing, and law. In her free time, she can be found watching horror movies and playing board games with her partner in Brooklyn.
Ru Chen is a content writer with several years of experience in creating engaging and well-researched articles. She mostly writes about coffee, business, digital marketing, and law. In her free time, she can be found watching horror movies and playing board games with her partner in Brooklyn.
