On any given day, many people around the world start their day with a cup of coffee, others have a cup later on in the day -or multiple cups- looking for a boost of energy. Generally, I tend to drink tea but I’m totally aware of the undeniable value of coffee. That’s why I decided to explore some of the traditions associated with this beverage from different regions of the world. I know quite a few people that are monsters until they get that cup of coffee.

Coffee became popular in the 16th century because it was the perfect alternative to beer and wine, which were widely popular. And that’s a good thing, depending on how you look at it, these days we would all be getting to work with a buzz from 1-2 bottles of beer at 8am.

In Italy, espresso is regulated because it’s such a part of Italian life. Mama mia! In New York, you can find a coffee shop virtually every other block, New Yorkers drink 5 times more coffee than the rest of the United States. In Haiti, coffee is very much part of everyday life as well. They say you can spot a Haitian if this person dips his/her bread in the cup of coffee. Unfortunately, I lost that habit.

The French Revolution was boosted by the proliferation of ideas in coffeehouses. Same can be said for the Enlightenment period. Voltaire, very influential in the Enlightenment that changed so many things in the world, used to drink 40 cups of coffee a day. A bit excessive I think. Maybe we should all follow his lead on this. That man was a genius and wrote like 20,000 books. In Austria, the Vienna coffeehouses are very popular and are considered national landmarks.

Origin and Cultural Heritage

Coffee originated in the Middle East, though it’s believed to have been cultivated in Africa since the 9th century. It was in Persia in the sixteenth century that men would congregate to drink coffee, play games and listen to music. Later on, coffee became very popular in the Ottoman Empire. The world’s first coffee house was opened in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) in 1475.

Given the great influence of the Middle East on coffee, it’s no wonder that coffee from many middle-eastern countries and Turkey have been inscribed in the Intangible Cultural Heritage List of Humanity by UNESCO.

Arabic coffee

Arabic coffee from countries such as United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Qatar is considered to be a ceremonial act of generosity and hospitality. The coffee is roasted and traditionally prepared in front of guests. The coffee beans are at times roasted over an on open fire and the coffee pot as well; nowadays it can also be prepared over a stove. A work of art in itself. Many spices (ginger, cardamom, cloves and saffron) are added to the coffee that gives it a distinct flavor. The coffee is seldom drunk with milk. Besides of the flavor and the aroma, the coffee at times has a different color that we are accustomed to in the west, a bit more like tea.

Turkish Coffee

Turkish coffee is sometimes mistaken for Arabic coffee, the two of them have different features. Turkish coffee is unique and remarkable in its own right. Unlike Arabic coffee, Turkish coffee is generally sweetened and contains foam. A “cezve” is used to make the coffee. It’s dark and rich. It’s famous for its deliciousness and very different from most coffees served around the world. I’ve had this coffee in NYC. I’m already daydreaming about drinking it Instanbul. As if I don’t already enough reasons to visit Turkey.

Coffee from Bali, Indonesia

Unlike the two mentioned about, this coffee isn’t inscribed on the Intangible List of Cultural Heritage, at least not yet. Once I learned how this coffee is prepared, I had to put it on here. In Bali, the coffee beans are passed through the digestive system of a living animal, a civet. The civet eats the coffee beans and the beans are extracted intact when the civet poops. Then the beans are cleaned thoroughly before the coffee is prepared. There you have it! The most expensive coffee in the world.

There are many notables coffees from different parts of the world (Brazil, Thailand, Hawaii, Colombia, Ethiopia, Java, etc..), it’s amazing what looks so simple can be prepared drastically different from one country to the other. It’s a bit like rice. While sipping on that cup of coffee, remember that coffee is considered a national treasure by some countries and its preparation can at times be a work of art perfected through centuries.

What’s the coffee like where you are from? Leave a comment below.