5 Awesome Coffee Drinking Traditions From Around the World

Coffee drinking has been around since the 13th century, which is when people started roasting the beans and consuming it much like they still do today. By the late 1800s, coffee had become a popular drink worldwide and nowadays, the world goes through about 2.25 billion cups of coffee per day. That’s a lot of coffee! And according to PBS, it is the second most valued commodity that is legally traded in the world. 

Its popularity cannot be disputed. At the same time, different cultures and regions prepare the drink differently and have diverse customs and rituals when it comes to its consumption. These are some of the fascinating traditions and ways people prepare their coffee.

Mexico

Mexico is one of the largest coffee producers in the world, generating about 60 percent of the world’s coffee, reveals the blog from the Solis utensils company. The traditional dark roasted coffee is called cafe de olla and is served in a clay pot. Locals usually add raw brown cane sugar, cacao and sometimes a stick of cinnamon for extra flavor. The drink, explains Newsweek, was originally brewed during the times of the Mexican Revolution starting four years before the First World War, with the goal of lifting the soldiers’ mood and spirits.

Italy

In Italy, coffee culture has been around since way back in the 1500s, says Italy Foodies, an Italian food blog, and is an important part of its lifestyle. Italians love taking coffee breaks during the day, and it is understood that drinking this beverage is a social event; it’s a time for friends, family and even strangers to talk, spend time together and relax. 

Here, it is usually consumed as an espresso, drunk while standing for a few short minutes by the bar in small glasses. And although there are many types of Italian coffees, choosing other types of orders, such as an Americano or a Cappuccino is frowned upon, as they are considered too heavy and harmful for digestion, especially in the afternoon hours. Tourists, though, can definitely get away with it.

Finland

The infatuation that the people of Finland have with coffee is well known. The country even has a startup that upcycles coffee grounds to make sneakers! Until recently, Finland was the world’s biggest consumer of coffee per capita, losing its place and becoming second to the Netherlands in 2020. A study conducted by Statista in that year showed that each Finn consumes a whooping 17 pounds of coffee per year, quotes the Coffee and Affection blog. 

Finland’s people average 8-9 cups of coffee per day, which include hot as well as cold brews. The drink is used in cakes and other sweets and recipes as well. Small coffee shops can be found all over the country, and social gatherings and events aren’t complete without this drink. 

Although most coffee is enjoyed the old fashioned way and made with drip coffee makers, they also love the Scandinavian kaffeost, which adds cheese to the coffee. Really. It is prepared by pouring coffee over a piece of dried cheese, describes Newsweek, which soaks in the brew and allows it to become creamy. 

Cuba

Hot, bitter, strong and short. That is how Cubans like their coffee, reports Havana Times. Before the coffee pot was invented, it was filtered with sugar using a type of funnel made out of fabric. These days, coffee is filtered without sugar using more modern methods.

Cuba is an island where the coffee culture is deep and rich. It is everywhere. And although Cubans aren’t really interested in instant coffee, Cappuccinos or decaf, as they want the real deal, un cafecito will most likely be offered to anyone visiting their friend, no matter the hour of day or night.

Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, there are actual coffee ceremonies, explains the Indian Express. Led by young women dressed in traditional Ethiopian garments, these traditional events last a few hours and are an important part of the country’s culture and social life. 

In a country that’s the birthplace of the arabica coffee plant, and that has declared the beverage to be its national drink, the women roast coffee beans in a pan over a charcoal oven, grind the beans and then stir the ground coffee in a special clay pot called jebena. Per their tradition, once the coffee is ready to be drunk and served, the youngest child brings the first cup of coffee to the eldest person present, which ends the ceremony.