Coffee Traditions Around The World: Top 5 Countries to Visit First

Way back before lattes, pour-overs, espresso grinders, and digital scales became a thing, traditional coffee brewers were all about brewing the perfect cup through time-honored traditions. These traditions have been shared for more than a thousand years, combining skill, stories, and the power of connection in every cup.

Even though you can have a meticulously prepared coffee at your favorite specialty coffee shop or buy high-quality beans online, there’s something special about trying these coffee traditions in the places where they started.

There's a unique charm that unfolds when you're right in the spot where these coffee traditions have been mastered, and it's an experience that's hard to recreate from a distance. Here are the top 5 coffee traditions around the world that you absolutely must try first-hand.

Ethiopian Coffee Tradition

Ethiopia is where our favorite morning drink was created and made for the very first time. The Ethiopian coffee ceremony stands out as the starting point for all coffee traditions around the world. It's remarkable in how deep and emotional it is, yet it also has this beautiful simplicity to it.

Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony

The Buna ceremony is a cherished tradition that can go on for hours. It includes coffee, snacks, sweet incense, and plenty of lively chats with family, friends, and neighbors. Guests usually get invited to the ceremony with the phrase "nubunata," which means "let's go drink coffee."

Preparing the Space

• The chairs are arranged in a circle in an open area.
• The hostess (in local culture, only women make coffee) scatters leaves, grass, or flowers on the floor to symbolize hospitality, gratitude, and respect.
• The venue is decorated as a sacred space.

Roasting and Incense

• The hostess lights a fire using a bonfire, coal burner, or gas burner to roast coffee beans.
• Incense, usually myrrh with bark, is placed on a small saucer near the burner, believed to ward off evil spirits.
• The aroma blends with roasted coffee, creating a constantly changing scent.

Preparing the Beans

• Green coffee beans are washed to clean and moisten them for better roasting.
• Low-quality beans are discarded before roasting.

Roasting the Beans

• The hostess roasts beans on a large metal dish, stirring continuously to achieve a dark color in about 6-7 minutes.
• A mystic atmosphere is created as smoke swirls in the twilight.
• Men may offer stronger drinks like "arake" to enhance the mood.

Experiencing the Aroma

• After roasting, the beans are transferred to another plate, passed around for guests to inhale the fresh aroma (a crucial step according to Ethiopian elders).

Grinding and Brewing

• The hostess selects under-roasted beans and grinds them using a vertical mortar grinder called "mukacha."
• Ground coffee is placed in a "jebena" (traditional pot), and water is added before placing it on fire.
• The boiling coffee is occasionally cooled with cold water to regulate temperature.

Serving the Coffee

• The brewed coffee settles for 5 minutes.
• It's poured into small, handle-less cups, and served with popcorn, initially to refresh taste buds.
• Coffee can be sweetened, salted, or accompanied by calming herbs.

Etiquette and Symbolism

• Guests accept the cups with both hands, and cups are served first to elders or respected guests.
• Three cups symbolize taste, luck, and blessing. Each represents distinct brewing stages: Abol, Tona, and Bereka.

Today, people are keeping the ceremony simple to make it time-efficient, often skipping the roasting part or just using pre-roasted coffee from a thermos. Even with all the changes, the ceremony still holds a special place, and the Buna ceremony is prioritized, even in times of tragedy.

Arabic Coffee Tradition

Arabic coffee, known as 'Gahwa' in Emirati Arabic, plays a significant role in Arab culture. In 2015, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar worked together to have the Arabic coffee included on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Roasting the Coffee Beans

• Coffee beans are lightly roasted in a shallow metal pan placed over a fire.
• The beans are stirred until they change color, releasing their aromatic flavors.

Grinding the Coffee

• The roasted beans are ground in a stone grinder, often accompanied by traditional singing.
• A small hole in the grinder allows for the addition of cardamom, a key flavoring in Arabic coffee.

Brewing the Coffee

• The ground coffee is added to a pot of water and brought to a boil.
• Once brewed, the coffee is poured into a Gahwa pot known as the Dallah.

Serving the Coffee

• Arabic coffee is served hot in small, handle-less cups.
• It is often accompanied by dates or other sweets, a traditional gesture of hospitality.

The Etiquette of Serving

• Coffee is served to guests with great care, following a tradition that has been passed down through generations.
• It is typically offered in a social setting, fostering conversation and community.

Turkish Coffee Traditions

Turkish coffee traditions have been inscribed in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list back in 2013. Turkish coffee has its roots in the Middle East from the time of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans came up with a special technique to brew coffee using a cezve, which is a special pot often made of copper or brass.

This method brings out the coffee's unique flavor and smell. Unlike other coffee traditions around the world, the beans are ground very finely and then boiled gently with water, creating a strong and flavorful drink.

Traditional Turkish Coffee Making

The heart of making Turkish coffee is the cezve, which is a small pot with a long handle, usually crafted from copper or brass. The way a cezve is designed is important for making Turkish coffee.

It lets you control the temperature just right and makes sure the heat spreads evenly, which is crucial for that rich flavor and thick consistency coffee is known for. 

Mastering the cezve brewing technique takes a bit of skill and some practice. The coffee is mixed with cold water and sugar to taste, and then gently heated. The coffee gets heated slowly to bring out its best flavor, making sure it doesn't boil over.

This careful process creates a coffee that's not just incredibly aromatic but also has a strong flavor that makes it stand out from other brewing methods.

Engagement and Marriage

In Turkey, coffee plays an important role in their culture. In fact, just before people marry or when they get engaged, the bride usually prepares a cup of coffee. If she has feelings for the guy, she adds sugar, but if she’s not into him, she adds salt instead.

This tradition has been around for a while, but the whole salt-sugar thing is still a thing. Often, the bride will mix salt into the sugar to test if the groom can handle it or not!

Fortune-Telling with Turkish Coffee

This tradition started in the time of the Ottoman Empire, when Arab nannies began to read the coffee grounds left in the cup after someone finished drinking.

To prepare for the fortune reading, Turkish coffee is drunk gently from one side of the cup. This way, the coffee grounds can settle down without being disturbed. Once the coffee is finished, a small amount of grinds should remain at the bottom. After making a wish, the cup is ready for the fortune-telling. The patterns formed by the coffee grinds are read, ostensibly offering insights into the future.

Italian Coffee Traditions

Italians typically have three coffees a day: at breakfast, after lunch, and after dinner. But here's an interesting tidbit: Italians don't drink cappuccinos after 11:00 a.m.

The Italian Breakfast: Cappuccino and Cornetto

Italians start their day with a cappuccino and a cornetto (Italian croissant). There’s no big breakfast like cereal, eggs, or bacon. A cappuccino and maybe a cornetto is the norm.

Cappuccino is a masterpiece: a shot of espresso with frothy milk. No fancy sizes like “venti” or “grande”, just a standard size for all.

The Italian tradition is that cappuccinos are only consumed at breakfast and should be avoided after 11:00 a.m. This is because Italians consider cappuccino to be a meal in itself, not a drink to be had after lunch or dinner.

Coffee Shops in Italy

In Italy, a coffee shop is referred to as a bar. At the bar, coffee prices are more affordable. At a table, expect higher prices, particularly in touristy areas or with a nice view.

Italians don’t typically take their coffee “to go” in paper cups. They prefer to drink it at the bar. If you're craving a takeaway, head to Starbucks (but honestly, you didn't come all the way to Italy to grab a Starbucks, did you?).

Types of Italian Coffee

Caffè Normale: Your usual shot of espresso. Caffè normale is usually thicker and more concentrated compared to coffee made with other methods. It happens when high-pressure steam goes through ground coffee beans.

Caffè Ristretto: It's roughly 3/4 the size of a Caffè normale. It uses a regular amount of ground coffee, but it only needs half as much water for extraction.

Caffè Doppio: It's a double shot of espresso.

Caffè Macchiato Caldo: Caffè macchiato is like espresso with a little splash or drop of frothed milk added to it. This drink is also known as espresso macchiato.

Caffè Macchiato Freddo: This is very much like caffè macchiato caldo, but instead of using frothed milk, you add just a little bit of cold milk.

Caffè Lungo: Caffè lungo is a type of coffee made with a traditional Italian espresso machine, and it takes a bit longer to brew, resulting in a larger, more mellow coffee than an espresso.

Cappuccino: It's a classic Italian coffee drink made by extracting a double shot of espresso, adding hot milk, and topping it off with frothed milk.

Latte Macchiato: a Latte Macchiato starts with a generous amount of steamed milk, and then a shot of espresso is poured on top.

Caffè Americano: Simply put, an Americano is just black coffee.

Caffè Corretto: It's an Italian coffee drink that combines a shot of espresso with a small amount of liquor, usually grappa.

Caffè Decaffeinato: Your typical cup of decaffeinated coffee.

Italian coffee culture blends tradition, precision, and passion. Whether you're enjoying a cappuccino in the morning or a café macchiato later in the day, it’s about savoring the moment.

Jamaican Coffee Tradition

Making and sharing coffee in Jamaica is a tradition that’s been handed down through the years. It highlights the importance of hospitality, socializing, and bringing the community together.

Preparation

Others might go for the modern drip coffee machines, but the traditional way is to boil the coffee in a pot and let it steep. It can take more time, especially when you're brewing it over an open fire or stove, but this method lets the flavors come together nicely.

Serving

Jamaican coffee usually comes in small, strong cups, similar to an espresso. People typically drink it black, but some locals like to throw in some condensed milk or sugar to sweeten their cups.

They usually serve coffee with some local treats, like Jamaican pastries or buns, to make the coffee experience even better. Some locals even add Jamaican rum, especially for special occasions.

Jamaica's Blue Mountain Coffee Festival

The Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival, typically taking place in March, is an event where local coffee farmers, roasters, and coffee lovers come together to explore the coffee-making process and its importance in culture. The festival celebrates the tradition of growing and roasting coffee, as well as the community that supports it.

At the coffee festival, there are so many fun things to do! You can taste different flavors and brewing styles of JBM Coffee, check out coffee farms and plantations, see local bartenders create amazing coffee cocktails, and learn how to pair coffee with different foods. 

Try Blue Mountain Coffee Before Flying to Jamaica

Coffee is more than just your morning pick-me-up. It’s a story and a ritual. The top coffee traditions around the world are more than just about the taste, they include the whole journey. 

Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee offers just that: a rich tradition and a world-renowned flavor that’s considered by many to be the best coffee in the world.

At Genuine Blue Mountain Coffee, we’ve traveled to Jamaica and sourced the finest Blue Mountain Coffee directly from the farmers. We guarantee authenticity with certificates of origin and offer competitive prices for both wholesale and retail purchases.

Experience the taste of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee before you go, and bring a piece of Jamaica’s coffee culture into your home. Purchase it directly from our website or Amazon store and savor the legendary flavor of the Blue Mountains.

FAQs

What cultures drink the most coffee?

Finland consistently tops the list when it comes to coffee drinking, with each person consuming about 12kg of coffee every year. Some other countries that drink the most coffee are Norway, Iceland, Denmark, and the Netherlands.

What is the Japanese tradition of coffee?

Japanese coffee traditions blend efficiency, like the quick grab of canned coffee, with artistry, seen in the slow-brewed, precise coffee served in Kissaten cafes.

What is the American culture of coffee?

American coffee culture now combines convenience and quality, offering a variety of coffee experiences.

• Starbucks has become a major element of U.S. coffee culture, with consumers going to cafes for breakfast or socializing.
• Americans are infamous for grabbing coffee to-go while rushing through their day. Drive-thru coffee businesses are also popular for quick coffee fixes. 
• Many Americans prepare their own coffee at home using drip coffee makers or single-serve pods like Keurig.
• Specialty coffee, made with high-quality beans and attention to brewing and flavor, has grown in popularity in recent decades. Artisan cafes and local roasters that use sustainable and ethical sourcing have grown.