Coffee is love, coffee is life! In some cities more than usual! I gathered 9 famous coffee cities for you and described their coffees. So get a cup of coffee yourself if not already and enjoy 🙂
I’ll argue that we, Turkish people, has a special place for coffee. I mean we even have a proverb saying “One cup of coffee is worth 40 years of remembrance”! But clearly it is not just Turkish people, everywhere it is part of daily routine. Whether you are starting your day or ending it, when chatting with friends or taking a break, the first thing that pops into our heads is coffee! Also it is widely preferred among us, travelers, as well, because when you are wandering in a city, one of the best options is to take a coffee break to refresh and feel the vibe of the city. Add to that a delicious dessert and there you are not tired anymore and can continue exploring!
However, as I mentioned there are some special countries / cities, where getting to know the local coffee is a part of feeling their culture. I have made a list of these cultural coffee capitals of the world for coffee-lovers and travelers. There are so many therefore I could not include all the coffee producers and special coffee having cities but I believe I have made a good list for at least a good portion of famous coffee cities.
Please note the order of the cities is random. The taste? All delicious!
Brasilia (Brazil):
Alright lets start famous coffee cities listing with Brazil. Why? Because for the past 150 years, Brazil has always been the producer of one third of the world’s total coffee production! Unlike most of the other producer countries, the consumption within the country borders is also high. Most Brazilians like the black hot coffee, called cafezinho, served in tiny (really tiny) cups the most. Normally, they like to drink this coffee very sweet but recently, you can also find less sweet versions as well. For Brazilians, cafezinho has become what tea is to Turkish people. It is served as a sign of hospitality as well as a treat after you have lunch or dinner at places, just as Turkish people serve tea for free at restaurants once you have done eating. Brazilians like their coffee simple and of quality. In this context, their coffee is rather plain and there are only some basic variety to it, meaning they do not have pumpkin blend cream coffee but they will have good black coffee. 🙂
Bogota (Colombia):
Of course capital of Colombia will be in famous coffee cities list! Because it is not a coincidence that Colombia is seen as the best coffee producer. There wasn’t a single coffee that I didn’t like drinking at this place and it actually took my “casual relationship” with coffee to a serious level 😀 The different types of coffee are plenty and all affordable. I especially suggest that you build a stock of the locals’ favorite brand Juan Valdez and bring it back home with you. The variety is wide, with different filtered and flavored types, which are all really tasty. However, pay attention to those on the menu that say “fuerte”… Normally, Colombian coffee is soft and balanced but “fuerte” means strong. Your heart might start skipping faster even if you are a veteran caffeine addict! I’m just saying… 😉
Rome (Italy):
yes sweetheart, no waiting, drink it and hit it…
Obviously we are gonna add Italian coffee to the famous coffee cities list, but it is hard to pick just one Italian city so if I have to I’ll say Rome. But in general Italian coffee culture really surprised me as it contradicts with how Italians usually enjoy their food. Most of the time, people stop by at the counters of the coffee places and drink espresso or cappuccino in the blink of an eye and go on on their ways! It is strange to me that these people treat eating a meal as an art to be consumed slowly and yet enjoy their coffee in such a short period of time. Still, the coffee there is a true example of success. They mostly prefer espresso and cappuccino but they drink it less hot then you probably used to. Especially, if you do not mention that you want your milk coffee with warm milk, you may drink something extremely cooler that what you’d desire, just as I did! 🙂 In addition to local coffee shops, you will see plenty of the famous Italian coffee shops, illy and Lavazza, instead of Starbucks.
Vienna (Austria):
One of the first cities to recall when the subject is coffee. Vienna’s coffee is such a part of the Austrian culture is that it was listed among the intangible cultural heritage list of UNESCO in 2011. In cafes, you will find plenty of classical coffee types, with cappuccino and espresso being the most preferred ones. For those seeking to try a local taste, I suggest Wiener Melange. It tastes a bit like cappuccino but as the famous coffee maker of Vienna, Julius Meinl put it: “An addition of a shot of espresso to milk foam in a large cup.”
Seattle (the USA):
This is where Starbucks was born, so it is not surprising that there is a special coffee culture in Seattle. Besides Starbucks, there are plenty of coffee tastes and cafes in this city, where people see coffee as “liquid sun.” By the way, the biggest Starbucks store (Area: 1400 square meters) is also located here.
Havana (Cuba):
The characteristic of Cuban coffee is its being strong. Plus, if you try the one named Cubana, you are in for a strong and sweetened espresso. Sometimes, this coffee is served without sugar, but with a sugar candy stick. This way, you take a sip from the coffee and enjoy the candy simultaneously. 🙂
Hanoi (Vietnam):
Vietnamese coffee is also among the strong ones. You can separate it from the others thanks to its texture and color. They mix components that you wouldn’t think would mix with coffee, so it is safe to say that they add their own touch to what was once a French colonials’ influence. And as for the component I mean unusual like yoghurt, eggs and fruits! As odd as it may sound, they do mix harmoniously. It is possible to find many local and old coffee shops on the Coffee Street in Hai Ba Trung district of Hanoi. You can order yoghurt coffee (sua chua ca phe), egg white coffee (ca phe trung), coffee smoothies (sinh to ca phe). The cold-served coffee, Ca Phe, is among the local tastes, as well.
Nairobi (Kenya):
Africa is one of the places where coffee is produced in high amounts and Kenya is the top trader in this regard. The number of people who go there just to taste the coffee at its origin is a lot! It can argued if it would be enjoyable to go to an always-hot climate and consume hot coffee. I don,t know about you guys but I can always enjoy a good coffee 🙂 Of course, as you may guess, the prices are quite affordable and the variety is plenty, so Nairobi has a place in famous coffee cities list.
Istanbul (Turkey):
It would be unfair to skip Istanbul in famous coffee cities list. Istanbul is one of the places where the oldest coffee shops in the world first opened. (The first one in the world opened around 1530 in Damascus). In 1555, the first registered coffee shop opened in Tahtakale area. Coffee started to appear in Europe years later, by 17th century. For the past two years, Istanbul has been the host of popular attractions such as Coffee Festival. There is a constantly developing coffee culture, latest development being the opening of 3rd wave coffee shops. Of course, Turkish coffee will always be at the center of the big picture! 🙂
So what are you waiting for, if you haven’t already while reading this, go grab a cup of coffee now 🙂 Also please let me know if you know different coffee cultures to be featured next in the comments!
