Coffeehouse culture Coffeehouse culture began in the Arab world, and eventually spread to other areas of the world and blended with the local culture. Traditional Arab coffeehouses are places where mostly men meet to socialize over games, coffee, and water pipes ( or ). Depending on where the coffeehouse is, its specialty differs. In North Africa, green tea is served with mint, and coffee is served European style.
Arabic coffee, or Turkish coffee, is made in Egypt and the
Levant countries. Arabic coffee is a very small amount of dark coffee boiled in a pot and presented in a
demitasse cup. Particularly in Egypt, coffee is served , which means the amount of sugar will be "just right", about one teaspoon per cup. However, in the
Arabian Peninsula, Arabic coffee is roasted in such a way that the coffee is almost clear; it is traditional for the host to refill the guest's cup until politely signaled that the guest is finished. Other variations have been created as the world has modernized: coffeeshops in North America and the Philippines, in Malaysia and Singapore, and cafes in various other countries. The Greek frappé is a mix of
Nescafé instant coffee, milk, and sugar frothed up and poured over ice. Recent years have seen the rise in popularity of iced espresso-based coffees, such as espresso freddo (mixed with ice, then poured over ice) and cappuccino freddo (same, but with a layer of cold frothed milk poured on top).
Albania In 2016, Albania surpassed Spain by becoming the country with the most coffee houses per capita in the world. In fact, there are 654 coffee houses per 100,000 inhabitants in Albania, a country with only 2.5 million inhabitants. This is due to coffee houses closing down in Spain due to the economic crisis, and the fact that as many cafes open as they close in Albania. In addition, the fact that it was one of the easiest ways to make a living after the fall of communism in Albania, together with the country's Ottoman legacy, further reinforce the strong dominance of coffee culture in Albania.
Ireland Although tea is by far the most popular drink in Ireland, the country has a long history of coffeehouses and its coffee culture has created a drink that has gained worldwide popularity.
Irish coffee is a blend of hot coffee,
whiskey, and
whipped cream. It is usually served after dinner in many Irish establishments. A social event, is usually a coming-together of loved ones, friends, and colleagues over strong coffee and a shared sweet.
Portugal As other southern European countries, and as a former colonial power, Portugal has a strong coffee culture. Coffeehouses can be found in almost every street of every city, town and village; they are simply called , Portuguese for 'coffee'. Going to "the café" or going out to "take a coffee" are linguistic expressions, meaning "going out" or a calm encounter with someone. Like the Italian cultural trait, the Portuguese equate a to an espresso, the default way to have the drink. Café is usually served after meals but also at any other time of the day. In Portuguese homes, coffee machines or coffee pots are a staple utility. Using mainly
robusta beans, Portuguese coffee is made very strong, and the usual order is a (mainly in the Lisbon area), a very bitter shot of espresso. According to urban legend, this is an acronym for , which translates to 'drink this with sugar'. • : espresso • : espresso with a small amount of milk • : iced espresso • : with more water • / : espresso / with condensed milk • : double espresso • : coffee with milk • : espresso with a small amount of rum, brandy, or whiskey • (Catalan): with milk • / : a glass of milk with a small amount of coffee • : coffee with whipped cream
United Kingdom Yugoslavia Latin America Latin America is defined as the territories and countries in the Americas whose main languages are Romantic. A majority of the top-producing coffee countries are in this region, and small, family-owned coffee businesses are still fairly successful. Coffee, especially with the combination of European and indigenous cultures, is extremely popular and unique to each region.
Colombia Mexico The most popular form of coffee in Mexico is
café de olla. Its name derives from how the coffee is made in a clay pot. Traditionally,
piloncillo (unrefined brown sugar) and a
cinnamon stick is served with the dark roast coffee made in the pot.
Brazil Coffee's popularity in Brazil reaches all ages and demographics. One of the most popular drinks of the country is , which is strong coffee blended with a large amount of milk. This drink is usually served at breakfast to adults and children alike. Another popular Brazilian drink is the , made with a strong coffee blend similar to that used in and a large portion of sugar.
Cuba Much like in Brazil, coffee is best enjoyed within the family in Cuba. Cuban coffee is usually a coffee ration mixed with a store-bought coffee blend. It is usually made very strong, but sweet. One popular form is the , or the , which is an espresso made with sugar. A less sweet version is the
cortadito, an espresso with steamed milk.
East Asia Coffee culture is a relatively new, yet large phenomenon in East Asia. Coffee shops, both Starbucks and smaller businesses, have been growing exponentially in urban areas. The most popular coffee shops are those in which tradition has blended with the new surge of coffee culture.
China Japan Japanese coffee culture has been able to blend that of North American coffee culture and Japanese tea culture.
Korea Taiwan Southeast Asia Kopitiam is a traditional Southeast Asian coffeehouse, and is most popular in Singapore and Malaysia. All generations hang out at
kopitiams, while drinking strong green tea and coffee with milk in their traditional forms. While these exist in almost every neighborhood, more modern versions of coffee are spreading across major cities and coffee centers. While urban areas have adopted the trend of nano- and micro-roasters, coffee growing cities (e.g. Bangkok and Jakarta) have created their own speciality blends that are sold in local speciality coffee shops. The most popular coffee drink in Vietnam is , or 'coffee, milk, ice'. This drink is created by mixing strong coffee poured through a water drip and sweetened condensed milk, and then pouring that over ice. first became popular in Australia in the 1990s the invention of the average is claimed by a
Sydneysider. The flat white has since become a classis for Sydneysiders. thanks to its range of cafes and roasteries.
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea exports virtually all of the coffee that it grows, mainly in the
Eastern Highland Province, the
Western Highland Province, and
Chimbu. Conditions for coffee growing are ideal, with a cool tropical climate in those higher regions. The coffee industry began on plantations, during the colonial era. Most coffee is now produced by small-holders, in areas otherwise dominated by subsistence agriculture. The industry suffers from poor infrastructure and lack of investment. Another threat to the industry is the age of its existing coffee trees, many of which will need replacement to remain productive. == References ==