- Jun 23, 2023
- 5 min read

Coffee culture in the world!!!

Updated: Aug 26

The tradition of drinking coffee is ingrained all over the world, although there are different brewing methods.

NORTH TO SOUTH: EUROPE AND IT'S VERSATILE COFFEE CULTURE

Nordic people are used to drinking large amounts of coffee, albeit in a slightly diluted form. Finns have the highest per capita coffee consumption, with a preference for lightly roasted coffees.

In Central Europe, such as Germany, Austria and the Netherlands, roasted and re-dried coffee is preferred.

The French, Spanish and Italians appreciate their black coffee. Surprisingly, they drink less coffee than Scandinavians.

Anywhere or how: around the world, coffee unites people and promotes socialization.

Afternoon TEA: ENGLISH AND COFFEE

Even in England there is a long tradition of coffee: here in the mid-17th century the first cafes opened, but they also served tea. In the beginning, tea was very expensive and only available to the wealthy elite. It was only at the end of the 18th century, with the reduction of taxes, that tea became accessible even to the middle and working classes.

Even today, tea is preferred over coffee in England, enshrined in the afternoon tea tradition ("Tea Time"). This probably stems from the fact that the royal family has always shown a special fondness for tea. But it seems that even in the UK, things are changing.

An article in The London Evening Standard dated June 28, 2012 cites a study in which 45% of Britons consider coffee to be of higher social status than drinking tea. 70% of high-income respondents said they prefer coffee.

However, in the UK, coffee still has a long way to go: Britons consume 2.3 kg of coffee per capita per year. Just over a third of per capita consumption in Germany.

COFFEE GUEST: ITALY COFFEE CULTURE

Italy is the land of great coffee: here, espresso is almost divine. As long as you order an "in Italy" coffee, you will be served an espresso.

Espresso is drunk at any time of the day, just for a few seconds, like a short break, usually at the bartender.

In fact, espresso is actually drunk in two or three sips. Those who need more caffeine will order a "double coffee", which is a double espresso. In Italy, cappuccino is traditionally only drunk for breakfast, usually with a pastry, such as a croissant. The milk in a cappuccino is considered part of the meal, so people avoid consuming milk for the rest of the day as it makes it too full.

Italians love to drink espresso at lunch, dinner, or even late at night. To satisfy their love of coffee, Italians consume an average of about 5.6 kg of coffee per capita per year.

GERMANY COFFEE CULTURE

Germans also have a very strong relationship with coffee, although German coffee culture is not as strong as in Italy. Everyone drinks coffee the way they like it, at any time of the day, strong or weak, with or without sugar or milk, from a vending machine or brewed with a modern espresso machine.

In a year, Germans drink about 6.7 kg of coffee per capita: 160 liters per year, or about four cups a day. Since the first espresso machines hit the market in 2001, single-serve coffee has also conquered Germany. Since then, at the office and at home, many people have turned to espresso pods or espresso machines, great fresh brews that can satisfy any palate.

The Dutch and "KOFFIETIJD" (COFFEE)

In the Netherlands, coffee consumption is about the same as in Germany: about 6 kg per capita, per year. During the day, the Dutch drink a lot of coffee: in the morning, to start a good day, from 10 am to 11 am for “koffietijd” (coffee break), during the day to boost energy, as well as in social interactions in the workplace. In the evening, after dinner, the Dutch usually drink an American-style coffee.

Occasionally, they treat themselves to a latte or latte macchiato, which in the Netherlands is called "koffie verkeerd", or "coffee upside down", because of its ingredients: instead of coffee with a drop of milk, it's milk with a drop of coffee. This drink is served in rather small glasses, and is completely different from the French latte.

MILK COFFEE "SAVOIR-VIVRE" (ART OF LIFE) FRANCE

No other country is as known as France because "savoir-vivre", the art of living, in addition to their passion for coffee, is an important feature of their national culture. With an annual per capita coffee consumption of 5.6 kg, the land of love and the Eiffel Tower are in the middle of a chart comparing coffee consumption between the old and new continents.

Coffee is mainly enjoyed at home, prepared with a espresso machine or with a French press, a purely French invention that dates back to 1900.

Despite the preference for more informal drinking, cafes are still popular and have a long tradition in France as well. Usually, you drink a café au lait, accompanied by a croissant or french toast: toast topped with a few spoonfuls of jam. French Café au lait consists of half very hot and strong filter coffee (or double espresso), and the other half is milk, often bubbly. The perfect latte is created by pouring milk and coffee at the same time into the bowl.

During the day, the French like to enjoy espresso ("petit noir") or black coffee sometimes diluted with water, known as "long" coffee.

Usually black coffee with Cognac is ordered after dinner. A granita, a smooth and concentrated coffee with a mocha liqueur, is another popular choice.

Today, the coffee break is a rite of passage that unites Europe and the United States.

USA - FROM "FREE RECHARGES" TO GOOD COFFEE MIXES

Americans love coffee. From restaurants to bagel shops, you can fill your cup with just the nod of your head.

Major American cities have more coffee shops than anywhere else in the world. They offer a wide selection of coffees: milk, cold coffee, cappuccino, vanilla, and more flavors than one can imagine.

Even so, the annual per capita coffee consumption is very low: about 4 kg lower than the average of European countries.

One explanation could be that Americans don't spend a lot of time eating breakfast, or because they tend to prefer quality over quantity.

In fact, more and more cafes are spoiling their customers with fine concoctions. This also has to do with the consumption of single-serve home coffee and the unusual increase in the purchase of capsule and capsule espresso machines in recent years.

In both the United States and Italy, drinking coffee has become a very enjoyable and necessary daily habit.