Coffee is still a popular drink today. The Netherlands is a small country, and the major city of Amsterdam has less than 800K people. Yet, they still drink around 6.5 million cups of coffee per day. The Dutch love to drink their koffie throughout the day. It’s typically served black and with a koekje (cookie) or stroopwafel. Even in Dutch homes, visitors are asked if they’d like a lekkere kopje koffie (delicious cup of coffee) accompanied by a cookie natuurlijk (of course).
Cuba
The story of coffee in Cuba began in the mid-17th century. While coffee was initially imported, it was quickly realized that the climate was ideal for growing coffee locally. The first plantations in Cuba are on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
As a result, coffee has become ingrained in Cuban culture, and some might say it is part of the country’s identity. Outside the country, we might refer to the style as a Cafê Cubano, but it’s just known as typical espresso in Cuba.
Cuban coffee is enjoyed throughout the day. It’s typically served in espresso shots. Whenever someone has a visita (dropping in on neighbors or family), coffee is served while they gossip.
Almost every home in Cuba has a stovetop espresso maker, like a Moka Pot. The espresso is typically served with sugar already mixed in.
Japan
Japan may not be the first country you think of for coffee. While tea has a rich history in Japan, coffee has grown in popularity. If you love cold brew coffee, its creation can be directly linked to Kyoto, Japan, in the 17th century.
The overwhelming theme in Japanese coffeehouses is precision. The baristas’ meticulous attention joins artistry and presentation to detail in preparing each cup. Traditional teahouses are a significant influence on modern coffee houses in Japan. Beverages are often joined with delicious desserts. Ambiance frequently leans toward a space for slower-paced experiences and conversations among patrons. There are some grab-and-go-style coffee houses as well, which show the influence of American-style “fast food.”
United States
Many of our readers may be based in the United States, so this may not surprise them. Coffee culture here has changed dramatically over the past 30 years. While coffee has long been a popular beverage, it was often seen as an accompaniment to a meal, which was usually breakfast. Diner restaurants would have a pot of drip coffee ready to serve patrons. While it wasn’t the best cup of coffee, it was cheap and helped wake you up.
While many denigrate Starbucks, it did spawn the dedicated coffee shop trend that has grown over the past 40 years. Going to a specialty coffee shop has become mainstream in the United States. This has changed the emphasis toward better quality coffee and more options than drip coffee. Espresso-based drinks soared in popularity, along with coffee prices, as demand grew. Where coffee could once be bought for around $0.50/cup in the 1980s, it’s regularly around $5/cup today.
A common sight in many U.S. coffee shops is a person with a laptop using the free Wi-Fi to work. Some may sit there for hours, drinking coffee with headphones to isolate themselves from the other patrons. This social experience differs from that in many different countries.
But, while the isolated laptop user may be typical earlier in the day on weekdays, many coffee shops will have live music, poetry readings, or other happenings in the evenings or on weekends, changing the shop’s character to more of a social or entertainment focus. This dichotomy of solitary laptop users and shared experience with live music seems to be a unique tension not found in many other places worldwide.
Conclusion
Coffee truly is an international beverage. While it is produced in a few countries, leading to concerns about exploitation, consumption is far more widespread. Cultural norms around drinking coffee are as varied as the number of coffee drinks.
Some common traits, such as the communal social dimension, may have been diffused as it spread from its Ethiopian origins thousands of years ago. But even with the evolution of the ceremonies surrounding coffee consumption around the globe, the love of the beverage remains. If you find yourself traveling to another place in the world, while the experience may differ from the one you have at home, you’ll be sure to find coffee at the core, ensuring some semblance of familiarity even in an unfamiliar land.
