Coffee Around the World

Coffee is drank by over 1 billion people in the world every single day.

Did you know there are some countries where take-away coffee just doesn’t exist? Although we all enjoy making time to drink our favourite coffee with a friend or colleague, for the most part coffee consumption is a very individual experience in the UK. In this article, we’ve picked out some countries where coffee drinking is far more deliberate experience.

Take a look at some of the coffee-centred practices from certain countries around the world – could we learn something from these countries about the mindful, social consumption of coffee?

How coffee is drank around the world

Ethiopia

To understand the significance of coffee in Ethiopian culture, you simply need to hear the common phrase “Buna dabo naw”. Translating to “coffee is our bread”, this saying highlights the significance of coffee as a source of sustenance.

Ethiopia is the home of Arabica coffee, which we use in our SIGNATURE blend. Interestingly, the country exports less than half of what it grows, meaning that the majority of its own production is consumed by the residents.

Coffee is the national drink of Ethiopia, and drinking coffee is a very social experience.

Sweden

In her book Fika: The Art of the Swedish Coffee Break, Anna Brones talks about the consumption of coffee as a “small, slow moment”. It’s about taking a break, free from distractions, and enjoying your coffee during a quiet moment or while spending quality time with a friend.

If you ever find yourself reaching mindlessly for your coffee cup only to realise it’s already empty, maybe you’re someone who would benefit from this act of mindful coffee drinking!

Italy

Italy is considered one of the coffee capitals of the world. Coffee is a part of the culture; an opportunity to socialise with friends or take a quiet moment out of the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Mornings typically begin with a milky coffee, such as a cappuccino, latte or macchiato.

Later in the day, you’ll find coffee shops filled with people drinking espressos, or opting for something longer such as an americano. Drinks are sipped slowly, mindfully, and used as a pick-me-up after lunch.

This Lonely Planet article has lots of good information about Italy’s coffee culture.

Vietnam

Vietnamese coffee beans are drank around the world, so it’s no surprise that coffee drinking is also a big part of day-to-day life in Vietnam. You’ll find plenty of unusual and decadent coffee-based drinks in Vietnam, but here are a couple of examples.

In Vietnam, coffee is traditionally made by filtering it into a small glass through a filter called a phin, over some condensed milk. This super sweet, delicious drink (known as “ca phe sua da”) is meant to be savoured, sipped slowly to enjoy every bit.

Another popular drink in Vietnam is Egg coffee (“ca phe trung”), which is sort of like a dessert and a drink mixed into one. The final product, created using whisked egg yolk, tastes sort of like liquid tiramisu. Yum!