Around the world in coffee cups
Recently, we concluded a series on coffee culture around the world over on our Instagram page. In case you missed it, we have listed all of them here.
Denmark
Grounded in the larger cultural concept of ‘hygge,’ coffee is meant to be enjoyed slowly with friends, to create the signature warmth and cosiness of hygge that makes the Danes one of the happiest people in the world. Coffee shops in Denmark are carefully curated spaces with lots of books, art and furniture, encouraging guests to take their time savouring their coffee. Denmark is also one of the biggest consumers of coffee.
Italy
Italian coffee culture is probably the most easily recognizable around the world. Espresso comes from the word for 'pressed' in Italian - as water is pushed through tightly pressed together coffee grounds. An average day in Italy is defined by coffee rituals: a cappuccino with breakfast, a caffè macchiato – or two – as an afternoon pick-me-up, and espresso after dinner.
Yemen
Undoubtedly the birthplace of coffee culture, Yemen is where the coffee drink was invented. The bean is said to have been first consumed as a beverage in western Yemen in 1450 by the country’s mystical Sufi monk population who used the drink to help them stay awake during all-night meditations. It was exported almost exclusively from the Port of Mokha, hence, 'mocca.' Yemeni coffee remains one of the best and most prized coffee anywhere in the world.
Vietnam
Vietnam was first introduced to coffee by the French, and is now the second largest producer of coffee in the world. Vietnam has a fantastic coffee culture with lots of variations in the way it is served. Vietnam is the world's second largest producer of coffee, and most of it is the robusta variety - making for a strong, rich, dark blend. It is served with its own drip filter with a thick layer of condensed milk to smooth out the strong coffee. The coffee is meant to be consumed slowly and mindfully. Other variations of Vietnamese coffee include egg and yogurt. Yup!
Turkey
Coffee is an essential part of the food culture of Turkey. Even if you are not a coffee drinker, there is no other cure for the cruel Turkish winter. Not for the weak of heart, this is traditionally a strong black coffee. What sets Turkish coffee apart is the fact that it is a finely ground, unfiltered blend. The coffee is served with the coffee grounds still in it. Usually paired with a small piece of Turkish dessert like lokum or baklava, the coffee cup is turned on its head after drinking. The pattern that the coffee grounds leave behind are used for fortune telling.
Malaysia
Kopi, Kopi-O, Kopi-Kaw - are all names for the different variations of coffee that you will be able to get across Malaysia. Coffee culture is big in Malaysia with traditional, neighborhood shops to hipster joints, from hot to frozen, you can get any kind of coffee at any time of the day.What makes Malaysian coffee unique is that the beans are roasted with margarine and sugar. Penang White Coffee is roasted without sugar, giving it a slightly less dark colour.The next time you visit Malaysia be sure to visit a 'kopitiam' for a traditional breakfast of black coffee, half boiled eggs and kaya (coconut and egg jam) toast.