Coffee Culture Around the World: Specialty Brews Beyond Borders

You can tell a lot about a place by its coffee culture. Learning about coffee in different countries is fun! 

While everyone partakes in coffee culture in their own way, a lot of it involves purchasing some coffee beans from around the world, brewing it at home, and having it how they usually do. We rarely think about how others drink coffee around the world or what they add to their brew. Some are unlikely ingredients that you wouldn’t ever think to add yourself!

Having said that, no, we’re not going to talk about what you may already know about. No affogatos or coffee liqueurs. We’re not even talking about Dalgona Coffee! So let’s spill the beans on the new brews.

Yuenyeung

Coffee and tea… We love them so much. But did you know that there are folks who drink both together? How interesting! 

Originating in Hong Kong, Yuenyeung is a drink that consists of coffee, black tea, milk, and sugar. This drink can be served hot or cold, perfect for the different weather in Hong Kong. Though coffee and tea may seem like an unlikely duo in one drink, this actually makes Yuenyeung so refreshing on hot days. 

You can pick up Yuenyeung at almost every breakfast spot in Hong Kong. You can also find them being sold in stands and kiosks spread all across the country. When you visit, partake in coffee and culture by trying some. 

Coffee Soda

We can call it coffee soda or a Manhattan Special, the company that this drink is named after - but all you need to know is that this involves coffee, seltzer water, and sugar. As you can also tell by the name, this drink originates from Brooklyn, New York. The taste still more prominently features coffee, but there is some effervescence to it that’s quite enjoyable. 

While we’re at it, you may want to know that some enjoy Sprite (a brand of soda, you may have heard of it) with coffee! Now, full disclosure, you’ll find a handful of people concerned about having the two together. The taste isn’t the main concern, either. Some are worried about the caffeine. But, this really shouldn’t be of any concern as long as you don’t drink copious amounts of it. A little on vacation? That’s totally fine. 

Coffee Beer

While we’re somewhat on the topic, let’s talk about coffee beer. Coffee beer is popular in Indonesia. Though you’d be forgiven for thinking that coffee beer contains beer, it actually does not. This is an alcohol-free drink that’s very close to coffee soda.

Coffee Beer is made with coffee (surprise), water, caramel, sugar, and soda! A lot of diners and casual restaurants serve this coffee drink to thirsty customers. As you can guess, it’s often served chilled. It’s so popular that there are some companies in Indonesia dedicated to making this drink and selling it in bottles.

Egg Coffee

This is what it sounds like. Usually, you’ll find this Vietnamese favourite served hot. In some cases, it can be served cold. You get some coffee (often it’s robusta), condensed milk, sugar, and beaten egg yolk. Some cafes might even add some cheese to it, but you can opt out of it with no trouble at all. 

With regards to the taste, it really isn’t that bad - in fact, it tastes great! The egg yolk actually adds some sweetness that balances the taste of bitter coffee. If you plan on trying coffee around the world and happen to land in Vietnam, try this one out. You’ll find it being served in almost every coffee shop. It’s that popular!

Canned Coffee

It’s called canned for a reason! Aside from sodas or beer, you can find a huge selection of canned coffee in Japan and other Asian countries. Sure you can see some around here, but it’s nowhere near as plentiful than at the Land of the Rising Sun. And these are good-quality coffees, too. You can get creamy, black, sweetened, unsweetened… You even have the option to get your canned coffee hot!

This takes what we know as instant coffee to a whole new level. Though Japan also has sticks and sachets of instant coffee, getting canned coffee is way more convenient. Coffee culture in Japan feels geared towards convenience. You can get a cup at a cafe just as easily, but canned coffee is what powers a lot of the workforce over there - for good reason, we might add. These taste great. 

Get Coffee Cultured

Feel like you’ve travelled all over the world by drinking some takes of coffee in different countries. We’re often hesitant to try something new because we might ruin a good brew or fear we might not like the taste of something but… You won’t know ‘til you try!