Coffee Traditions Around the World - Part 1

From its birthplace in Ethiopia to the streets of New York City, coffee has become a part of people's lives and the center stage in countless gatherings and ceremonies. No matter where you drink your coffee, it’s a sip of caffeine that gets you going.

Despite being the second most popular and consumed beverage in the world, coffee has its own traditions and customs that vary among different regions and populations.

Coffee Traditions

Some cultures brew coffee using machines called coffeemakers, while others use pots called percolators. Some people drink their coffee in the morning, while others enjoy their coffee in the afternoon.

The ways people brew, blend and drink their coffee is a reflection of not only their personal style and taste but also their culture, region and background.

If you want to learn more about the coffee traditions around the world from the mouths of the locals then you are in the right place. As you make yourself your cup of joy to fuel up for the day, come join me as we discover and learn more about the coffee traditions in coffee-loving countries.

1- Coffee Traditions, Armenia by @lusine_photos

Coffee Traditions - Armenia

I will start my Coffee Traditions Series from Armenia where I was born and lived for 23 years. A typical day here seems to go around coffee.

- Coffee is best enjoyed with family members, neighbors, friends and any guests (invited or uninvited).

-The first thing you offer your guests is Coffee. They are usually not asked if they drink coffee or no, only whether they prefer coffee with foam/sugar :)

- Coffee is usually made by boiling in coffee pots and served in Espresso-size cups with a saucer. The saucer is here in case you want to turn your cup upside down trying to find images or figures that can predict your future:)

(Once I was young and used to believe that:)

- Coffee is always served with something sweet, actually with MANY sweet things. Everything is put on the Coffee Table like a buffet: candies, chocolate bars, ice cream, cake, dried and seasonal fruits, anything that you can find at home. Your guests should feel like the king and they HAVE TO taste everything!

"I'm trying to cut down my sugar".
"Come on, only 1. It  will do you no harm".

This is the Armenian Coffee Hospitality :)

2- Coffee Traditions, Lebanon by @lusine_photos

Coffee Traditions - Lebanon

- Let me tell you about the coffee culture in Lebanon where I've been living since 2007.

- Keep in mind the specific design on this coffee cup as it is typically Lebanese, though no one is quite sure how and why it originated.

- Coffee cups without saucers are usually used at traditional Lebanese restaurants or among neighbors over their early morning coffee. Don't even dream to see any sweets with the Lebanese morning coffee. It should be as dark and bitter as possible.

- If you want to visit someone you may usually call them saying that you will pass by for a cup of coffee but be patient as you will usually be served lots of sweets, usually "homemade", and chocolate first. After you have spent plenty of time interacting and you show signs of leaving, you will be served the "Farewell" Coffee

- The younger generation prefer instant coffee with milk: "Nescafe" as they call it, while black coffee, which is made in coffee pots, is usually drunk by the older generation (like me:)

- Cardamom Coffee is also very popular but don't expect to like it from the first try. I could not swallow the first time I tried it though it is my favorite now

People change, tastes too😊

3- Coffee Traditions, Italy by @ane-grig

Coffee Traditions - Italy

- Italians start and end their days with a coffee, usually a cappuccino with a croissant in the morning, a caffè macchiato as an afternoon pick-me-up, and espresso after dinner.

- When Italians say coffee, they mean “espresso”. So when you are in a café, just say “un caffè per favore” and you will be served an espresso. Besides that, avoid ordering a Cappuccino in the afternoons and evenings like a typical Italian would do. Some say it's because the milk and foam serve as a meal substitute and the dairy in the cappuccino may upset the stomach.

The Italians have become famous for their espresso drinks, but the country is also home to dozens of other espresso styles.

Now it's time to learn how to order coffee in a typical Italian way using the Italian words.

☕caffè ristretto – a very strong espresso

☕caffè lungo – espresso with much more water (“lungo” means long)

☕caffè doppiò – double espresso

☕caffè shakerato – espresso with ice and sugar

☕caffè latte – espresso with milk

☕caffè latte senza schiuma – espresso with milk without foam

☕cappuccino – espresso with frothed milk usually taken in the mornings with your breakfast, usually a croissant

☕caffè macchiato - espresso with a drop of foamed milk

☕caffè macinato - ground coffee

☕caffè marocchino – espresso with milk froth and cocoa powder

☕caffè mocacino – cappuccino with whipped cream and chocolate

☕caffè coretto – espresso with a strong liquor, usually grappa, or a whiskey

☕caffè americano – 1/3 espresso with 2/3 of water usually

Coffee Traditions - My blog, coffee and camera!

If you are a coffee lover and would like to tell me about the coffee-drinking customs and traditions in your nation, please get in touch with me here. It would be immensely fascinating to learn more about your ideas and experiences concerning the coffee traditions in your region or country.