Coffee isn’t just a drink, it’s a story. A ritual. A culture. From the bustling cafés of Rome to the vibrant roasteries of Melbourne, every cup tells us something about the place it comes from. This International Coffee Day, we’re taking you on a journey across the globe, one sip at a time!
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Where Coffee Began
Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee, and nowhere is this heritage more alive than in Addis Ababa!
According to legend, a goat herder named Kaldi first discovered the energising effects of coffee beans here centuries ago. Today, Ethiopians celebrate that legacy with elaborate coffee ceremonies. In this way, the simple act of brewing is transformed into a deeply spiritual and social ritual.
Coffee is roasted before your eyes, ground by hand, and brewed slowly in a traditional clay pot called a jebena. Incense burns, conversation flows, and the rich aroma fills the room. Undeniably, it’s more than just a beverage! Coffee here is a sign of hospitality, a way of bringing people together, a link between past and present.
To share a cup in Addis Ababa is to witness coffee in its purest form; honoured, celebrated, and deeply embedded in the rhythm of daily life.
Click here to book an origin roast experience in Addis Ababa!
Rome, Italy – Espresso at the Heart of Life
In Rome, espresso is far more than a caffeine fix, it’s an institution that pulses at the heart of Italian life. Walk into any café, and you’ll find people of every age gathered around the counter. The barista works with speed and precision, to deliver a drink that’s small in size but enormous in meaning!
Italians have spent more than a century perfecting the art of espresso: the right grind, the right pressure, the perfect crema on top. What began as a quick way to enjoy coffee has evolved into a ritual. Without a doubt, it shapes the rhythm of daily life; morning greetings before work, a midday pause, an afternoon recharge.
In the Eternal City, espresso embodies both history and modernity. Its served in elegant historic cafés where artists and politicians once debated ideas. And in bustling neighbourhood bars where locals exchange gossip over their daily shot. Each tiny porcelain cup carries with it a legacy of craftsmanship, community, and continuity.
To sip espresso in Rome is to taste the very soul of Italian culture: bold, timeless, and unforgettable!
Click here to book an espresso experience in Rome!
Istanbul, Turkey – The Fortune of Turkish Coffee
In Istanbul, Turkish coffee isn’t simply a drink, it’s a centuries-old tradition recognised by UNESCO as part of the city’s cultural heritage. Thick, rich, and unfiltered, it brews slowly in a small copper pot called a cezve. Its often brewed over hot sand or a gentle flame, until it reaches the perfect froth. The result is a cup that’s as much about texture and ritual as it is about taste.
Turkish coffee is a delicacy to savour, not rush. Shared among friends, family, or even business partners, it has long been a symbol of hospitality and conversation. In Ottoman times, it was considered so important that laws even protected a woman’s right to divorce if her husband failed to provide her with coffee!
And then comes the magic: when the final sip is gone, the thick grounds at the bottom of the cup are turned upside down onto the saucer. Here begins the art of fortune-telling, where reading the patterns reveals hints of your future, a ritual that continues to charm both locals and visitors.
Therefore, to drink Turkish coffee in Istanbul is to taste history, tradition, and a touch of destiny, all in one small cup.
Click here to book a Turkish coffee experience in Istanbul!
Pereira, Colombia – Smooth Brews from the Coffee Axis
Nestled in Colombia’s lush Coffee Axis, Pereira is at the heart of one of the most celebrated coffee regions in the world. Here, coffee isn’t just an export; it’s a way of life, woven into the landscape and culture of the region. Rolling green hills lined with coffee plants stretch as far as the eye can see. The scent of roasting beans drifts through the air, marking a city that lives and breathes its brew.
Colombian coffee is renowned for its smooth, balanced flavour, and Pereira offers the chance to taste it at the source. Visitors can step onto traditional coffee fincas, where generations of growers have perfected the art of cultivation, harvesting beans by hand and drying them in the warm Andean sun. From seed to cup, every stage of the process reflects a deep respect for both nature and tradition.
But Pereira’s coffee culture goes beyond the farms. In the city’s vibrant cafés, baristas serve cups that showcase Colombia’s signature profiles; fruity, aromatic, and endlessly drinkable. They also experiment with new methods and modern brewing techniques.
To sip coffee in Pereira is to taste the dedication of its people, the richness of its soil, and the pride of a nation that has made coffee its cultural ambassador to the world.
Click here to book a smooth brew experience in Pereria!
Melbourne, Australia – The Flat White Capital
In Melbourne, coffee isn’t just a drink, it’s a craft, an obsession, and a way of life. This Australian city has built an international reputation as one of the world’s great coffee capitals. Every cup is brewed with artistry and precision. At the centre of it all is the flat white: a smooth blend of bold espresso topped with silky micro foam, creating a texture that’s both rich and velvety.
Wander through Melbourne’s laneways and you’ll find cafés tucked into every corner, each competing to serve the most memorable cup. Baristas here are not just service staff; they are artisans, celebrated for their creativity and skill. The flat white, born from this culture, reflects Melbourne’s approach to coffee: strong, elegant, and made for lingering conversation.
To drink coffee in Melbourne is to immerse yourself in a culture where quality comes first, and where a single cup can feel like an invitation to join the city’s vibrant, creative spirit.
Click here to book a flat white experience in Melbourne!
Oaxaca, Mexico – Café de Olla with a Twist
In the colourful streets of Oaxaca, coffee comes with a unique and irresistible twist. Café de olla is brewed in traditional clay pots, infused with cinnamon sticks and sweetened with unrefined brown sugar called piloncillo. The result is a warm, spiced brew that feels as comforting as it is flavourful, an authentic taste of Mexico’s culinary soul.
This drink traces it’s roots back to the Mexican Revolution, when soldiers and revolutionaries sipped it for energy and warmth. Today, it remains a beloved staple, connecting modern life to centuries-old tradition. In Oaxaca’s vibrant markets and cozy cafés, café de olla is often served alongside pan dulce. It truly is an experience that delights all the senses!
To drink coffee here is to embrace the heart of Mexican culture: rich in flavour, steeped in history, and always shared with warmth and hospitality.
Click here to book an Café de Olla experience in Oaxaca!
Hanoi, Vietnam – The Sweet Surprise of Egg Coffee
In Hanoi, coffee takes a delightful and unexpected turn. Known locally as cà phê trứng, egg coffee is a creamy indulgence created by whisking egg yolk with condensed milk. It then becomes a rich, frothy topping for strong Vietnamese robusta coffee. The result is part dessert, part beverage, and entirely unforgettable.
This ingenious drink was born in the 1940s, when milk was scarce in Vietnam. A resourceful barista substituted whipped egg yolk for cream, creating a recipe that quickly became a city favourite. Today, locals and visitors alike gather in hidden cafés across Hanoi’s Old Quarter to savour it, often served in tiny cups kept warm over a bowl of hot water.
To sip egg coffee in Hanoi is to taste both resilience and creativity, wrapped in a cup that tells the story of a city where tradition and innovation blend beautifully!
Click here to book an egg coffee experience in Hanoi!
Paris, France – Café au Lait and Pastry Perfection
Parisian café culture is the epitome of elegance, and nothing captures it better than the café au lait. Smooth coffee blended with steamed milk, served in wide cups and often paired with a buttery croissant, it’s a ritual that defines the rhythm of mornings in the City of Light.
Coffee in Paris has always been more than fuel, it is an experience of leisure, conversation, and culture. For centuries, writers, philosophers, and artists gathered in its historic cafés, where ideas brewed alongside cups of coffee. Today, the tradition continues in both old-world bistros and modern specialty roasters. Parisian craftsmanship gives coffee a uniquely French flair!
To linger over a café au lait in Paris is to join in a timeless ritual: savouring life’s simple pleasures in one of the world’s most enchanting cities.
Click here to book a Café au Lait experience in Paris!
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