Blogs • Posted by Charlotte Dibble • 08th September 2022
10 Coffee Drinks from Around the World You Need to Try
Hey, wanderlusters! Fancy taking a look at coffee around the world?
Ahh, lovely coffee. There’s the espresso, the americano, the latte, the mocha…
But have you heard about the Cafezinho, the Eiskaffee and the curiously cheesy Kaffeost…
Broaden your cup o’joe horizons and try out these awesome coffee drinks from around the world.
And yes, we weren’t kidding. The Kaffeost really is a cheese-and-coffee combo…
Cafezinho: Brazil
Brazil is the world’s largest producer of arabica coffee, and one of the main coffee-consuming countries. So we trust they know their joe.
Strangely, for such a mahoosive nation, the traditional Brazilian cafezinho is a tiny coffee drink. In fact, its name translates to ‘little coffee’. The cafezinho is small and strong like an espresso, but a little sweeter than our favourite Italian maestro. It’s a sign of hospitality in Brazil – kinda like the opposite of your grab-an-go takeaway coffee.
To make a cafezinho, you just add water and sugar to a small saucepan and heat them gently. Then add your coffee to the pan and let it brew (with the heat off). Use filter paper to filter, then pour into a cup and enjoy!
(well, they’ll probably say JA!, but you get our meaning)
Traditional kaffeostis enjoyed in countries like Sweden, Norway and Finland. The idea is simple: you place chunks of juustoleipä in a cup and pour over hot coffee.Juustoleipä is a dense, sturdy curd cheese that rocks serious halloumi-like vibes. Combine juustoleipä cubes with coffee, and they’ll half-melt into rich, cheesy blobs of sponge. Just like hot choc and marshmallows! Ish.
To enjoy like a true Swede, drink your kaffeost from a wooden mug and lift the cheese cubes out with a spoon.
If you like a taste adventure, this might be your favourite coffee drink from around the world!
Café au lait: France
We’re going to return to a more familiar coffee accompaniment now – the croissant!
The café au lait (you’ll probably know it as a latte) is a breakfast staple in France. Made with equal parts steamed milk and freshly brewed coffee, this is the beauty queen of coffee drinks.
To be très, très Parisian, dip your croissant into your latte before each bite. That’s why you serve lattes in nice wide cups – they offer optimal submersion space!
We recommend dunking your croissant into our Can Giraffes Tie Shoelaces? roast. With notes of milk chocolate, juicy plums and hints of hazelnuts and orange, it’s sure to make the perfect combination!
Eiskaffee: German
Google a picture of the eiskaffee, and you’ll be in love. Trust us.
The German eiskaffee is a gloriously cooling concoction of chilled coffee, cream and ice cream. The name means ‘iced coffee’, but it’s a bit of an upgrade from your standard iced brew!
Yup. We’re thinking of this summer treat as a caffeinated knickerbocker glory. And ☕ + 🍦=😃
Making eiskaffee is easy. Simply spoon generous scoops of vanilla ice cream into a glass and pour chilled coffee over the top. Top with whipped cream and choc sprinkles, and dive in!
Two Chimps recommends using our Bonkers for Cake Roast, the perfect addition to this sweet treat.
Can’t choose between tea and coffee? Then this is the global coffee drink for you!
Yuanyang is insanely popular in Hong Kong. Just stop by at a coffee shop, chain restaurant or street vendor and you’re sure to find it on the menu.
The name translates directly to ‘Lovebirds tea’ (aww…) because it’s a harmonious mix of coffee and tea. That’s right, folks. Your two favourite drinks in one cup! It’s actually a thing!
To make this please-everyone drink, you combine three parts black coffee with seven parts homemade milk tea. What’s Hong Kong milk tea, I hear you ask. It’s a perfectly sweet mixture of black tea and condensed milk.
This creamy coffee is seeing lots of modernisations. Fancy cold Yuanyang? Or a different type of milk? Go for it!
Got a sweet tooth? You might explore every coffee around the world, but we bet the Café Bombon will be your fave!
This Spanish coffee is a sweet delight. It’s like pudding and coffee and deliciousness all rolled into one. And it makes us very happy.
To join us in coffee heaven (it’s a good place to be), simply add condensed milk to a glass and pour in your espresso. The ratio is 1:1. So, half strong coffee and half magnificently, wonderfully, unashamedly sweet condensed milk. Gaze in wonder at the layers before stirring them together and taking a sip.
You will probably float off to paradise. Just to let you know.
Türk Kahvesi: Turkey
We’re keeping things balanced in this coffee guide, so it’s back to some strong coffee with the Türk Kahvesi!
Now, this one’s more of an acquired taste. Türk Kahvesi coffee, which probably originated in Yemen, is a thick, unfiltered style of coffee. Turks simmer very finely ground coffee in a traditional copper or brass pot (called a cezve) and skip over the filter stage. So, yup, you get a mighty cup of coffee – grounds and all!
Türk Kahvesi is about more than just coffee. It’s a communal drink, and a symbol of hospitality and friendship and showing a bucket load of gratitude. We’re not sure we’d like the flavour, but we LOVE what this coffee stands for! We also like the fact that it’s usually served with Turkish delight.
Pharisäer: Germany
Okay, so we know our coffee around the world tour has already taken us to Germany, but we couldn’t say no to this rum-laced coffee!
To make Pharisäer, you sweeten strong coffee, we recommend What time will I grow up? with sugar before adding a dash of rum (ideally Jamaican). Then you crown it with a big dollop of whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa powder.
Rum, coffee, cream… you’re glad we included it in the list, right?
Legend has it that Pharisäer originated in 19th century North Frisia, with the cheeky rebellion of Peter Johannsen, a local farmer. Gerog Bleyer, the strict local pastor, didn’t allow alcohol, and Johannsen saw this as a problem. Especially as he was due to celebrate the baptism his child. The solution? This rum-coffee drink! Farmer Peter mixed coffee and rum and topped it with a generous mound of whipped cream. The cream is a nifty touch – it forms a sealing layer which prevents all tell-tale smells of rum rising up from the drink. Smart!
Qahwa: Saudi Arabia
Time for a six-hour flight, because Saudi Arabia is our next coffee destination!
Qahwa or ‘Arabic coffee’ is what you want to order if you’re in the Middle East. This strong coffee drink features a mix of spices for a punchy, elegant taste. Recipes vary, but the spice shopping list generally features cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, saffron and ginger. Kinda Christmas-cakey, perhaps?
To truly embrace the qahwa, you’ll want to brew in a traditional Arabic coffee pot called a dallah. Boil for around 20 minutes before pouring the drink into fenjals (itsy-bitsy cups with no handles). Also, serve your spiced coffee with dried dates for a sweet balance against the bitterness. Delish!
Café de Olla: Mexico
Time for our final stop now. And we’re off to the land of the taco, the country of tequila, and the birthplace of Café de Olla. We’re heading to Mexico!
Café de Olla has been enjoyed by Mexicans for generations. Recipes change from region to region, even from family to family, but a coffee spiced with cloves, anise and cinnamon is the general idea. You also sweeten it with piloncillo – raw, dark unrefined sugar from Latin America.
Mexicans make this spiced brew in a clay pot called an olla. Why? Ask the locals, and they’ll tell you it’s the best way to bring out the flavour.
So there you have it, 10 coffee drinks from around the world. 10 glorious cups of caffeinated joy…10 awesome excuses to put the kettle on! Get brewing!
Not ready to return home? Check out Our Global Coffee Cultures guide!
Meet the chimp behind this article!
Charlotte joined Two Chimps after completing her BA Hons in Graphic Communication and Illustration at Loughborough University. She also earned two diplomas: Art and Design Foundation and Professional Studies.
What Charlotte does outside of the treehouse:
In her spare time, Charlotte is a keen baker and loves to bring delicious treats for the team to enjoy during their Monday tea break. Charlotte likes to practice her drawing and painting skills to relax, usually with one of her cats sitting on her lap to keep her company!
Charlotte says…
“I’m thrilled to join the Two Chimps Troop after five years of studying. I get to write blogs, design, manage social media, and connect with our amazing customers every day. It’s always exciting, and I learn something new every day!”
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