Coffee Culture Around the World

Coffee Culture Around the World

Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes

People all throughout the world have a special fondness for coffee. However, how we see it is a different matter.

Coffee is much more than a Cappuccino or an Americano at your neighborhood coffee shop. The method of preparation and even the ingredients can vary greatly; why not add some cheese curds or pepper to your brew?

Let’s take a little trip around the world to explore how various culture’s view coffee and which ones you’d like to try.

Ethiopia: Buna

Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee, is known for its traditional coffee ceremonies, which often take up to two hours to complete.

As a matter of historical convenience, buna, as coffee is known here, was served with salt or butter instead of sugar.

Italy: Espresso Romano

If you order a to-go cup in an Italian cafe, you’ll almost certainly get an eye roll or two, because espresso is the Italians’ equivalent of to-go coffee.

Italians are known for their love of espresso, but did you know that it is customarily served with a slice of lemon in Italy? The lemon is thought to bring out the sweeter flavors of the java.

Turkey: Türk Kahvesi

According to a well-known Turkish saying, coffee should be “as dark as hell, as strong as death, and as sweet as love.”

Traditionally, this beverage is served with chewy Turkish candies and served in a long copper pot called a cezve after meals.

They use finely ground coffee beans to prepare the coffee unfiltered, allowing the grinds to settle at the bottom. Drinking this requires a steady hand because it is consumed with the grounds still in it.

Finland: Kaffeost

The Finns enjoy what may appear to be an unusual combination. They begin with cheese curds (juustoleipä), followed by hot coffee. A cheese board with a cup of coffee is a very typical occurrence, so why not mix the two?

Denmark: Kaffee

Coffee consumption in Denmark has historically been among the highest in the world, possibly because to the harsh, gloomy Scandinavian winters.

Coffee is such an important element of Danish culture that there are cafés on practically every corner, especially in cities like Copenhagen.

France: Café au Lait

The French start the day with a café au lait (French for “coffee with milk”) is a coffee drink made with strong coffee and hot milk. The drink was invented in France and consists of equal parts coffee and milk.

It’s comparable to a conventional Italian cafe latte, but instead of espresso, it’s made with strong coffee and served in a mug large enough to drown baguettes or croissants.

Malaysia: Yuanyang

This coffee, which can be served hot or cold, is made out of 7 parts Hong Kong-style milk tea and 3 parts black coffee.

The milk tea is a combination of black tea and milk, and while it may appear to be a cup of tea, it is a highly caffeinated beverage.

Saudi Arabia: Kahwa

Coffee ceremonies in Saudi Arabia and other Arab cultures observe to various etiquette norms, such as always serving the elders first. It’s also customary to serve this cardamom-spiced beverage with dried dates to balance out the bitterness of the coffee.

Ireland: Irish Coffee

Irish coffee was invented in Ireland in the 1940s to warm up American travelers on a cold winter night, and it is still as popular today.

This after-dinner drink combines coffee and a martini. Irish coffee is made with hot coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar, and the crowd-pleasing whipped cream garnish.

Mexico: Café de Olla

Traditional Mexican coffee is made with unrefined cane sugar (or piloncillo) and a cinnamon stick. This is the drink for you if you prefer cinnamon in your coffee.

Spiced café de olla is brewed in earthenware pots with cinnamon sticks, which Mexican’s claim brings out the coffee flavor.

Brazil: Cafezinho

Cafezinho (or little coffee), by far the most popular drink among locals, is akin to an espresso; a little, strong cup of java. The difference here is that it is pre-sweetened, having been brewed directly with the sugar.

How Can Social Media Be Used to Promote Your Coffee?

A short answer is that it is insanely popular. In 2025, Statista projects that there will be 4.41 billion users of social media, and Hootsuite/We Are Social found that the average user spends nearly three hours a day on social media.

When it comes to content marketing, the secret to getting it right has to do with learning how to tailor it for the right person, the right time, and – what’s more important – the right channel.

You can interact directly with fans if your brand is present and popular in places where people often hang out, talk to them, offer them new content, and eventually, promote how great your coffee is.