Hey coffee lovers, are you ready for a wild ride? In this blog post, I’m going to share with you the ultimate guide to coffee etiquette around the world.

You might think you know how to enjoy your favorite brew, but trust me, there are some crazy and surprising customs out there that will blow your mind. So buckle up and let’s go!

First stop: Turkey. Did you know that in Turkey, coffee is more than just a drink? It’s a way of life. And a way of telling fortunes. Yes, you heard me right. After you finish your cup of thick and strong Turkish coffee, you can flip it over and let the grounds dry on the saucer. Then, a skilled fortune teller can read your future from the patterns and shapes that form on the bottom of the cup. How cool is that? But be careful, because if you refuse a cup of coffee from someone in Turkey, it’s considered a huge insult. And don’t even think about adding sugar or milk to your coffee, because that’s a big no-no. Turkish coffee is meant to be enjoyed as it is, bitter and bold.

Next stop: Italy. Ah, Italy. The land of pizza, pasta, and espresso. But don’t expect to order a latte or a cappuccino in Italy, because those are strictly for breakfast. And don’t even try to order an Americano, because that’s just an insult to the Italian coffee culture. Italians take their espresso seriously, and they drink it fast and strong. No sitting around and sipping your coffee for hours. You just order your shot at the bar, gulp it down, and go on with your day. And don’t forget to pay before you drink, because that’s the proper etiquette in Italy.

Next stop: Ethiopia. Did you know that Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee? According to legend, a goat herder named Kaldi discovered the energizing effects of coffee beans when he noticed his goats acting more lively after eating them. Since then, coffee has become an integral part of Ethiopian culture and society. And they have a very elaborate and ceremonial way of preparing and serving it. The coffee ceremony can take up to three hours, and involves roasting the beans by hand over a fire, grinding them with a mortar and pestle, brewing them in a clay pot called a jebena, and pouring them into small cups called finjal. The hostess then serves the coffee to the guests, starting with the eldest or most honored person. The coffee is usually accompanied by popcorn or bread, and is sweetened with sugar or honey. The ceremony is repeated three times, with each round of coffee having a different name: abol (first), tona (second), and bereka (third). The third round is considered a blessing and a sign of friendship.

Next stop: Vietnam. If you’re looking for a unique and delicious way to enjoy your coffee, look no further than Vietnam. Vietnam is famous for its iced coffee with condensed milk, or ca phe sua da. This drink is made by dripping strong and dark coffee over ice and sweetened condensed milk, creating a rich and creamy concoction that will make your taste buds sing. But that’s not all. Vietnam also has some other interesting variations of coffee, such as egg coffee (ca phe trung), which is made by whisking egg yolks with sugar and condensed milk and adding it to hot coffee, creating a custardy and frothy layer on top; coconut coffee (ca phe cot dua), which is made by blending coconut cream with coffee and ice, creating a smoothie-like drink; and yogurt coffee (sua chua ca phe), which is made by mixing yogurt with coffee and ice, creating a tangy and refreshing drink.

Last stop: Finland. You might not think of Finland as a coffee destination, but you’d be wrong. Finland is actually the world’s biggest consumer of coffee per capita, with an average of 12 kg per person per year. That’s about four cups of coffee per day! And they have a very cozy and social way of enjoying their coffee, called kahvi. Kahvi is basically a break from work or daily activities, where people gather together to chat and relax over a cup of coffee and some pastries or sandwiches. Kahvi can happen anytime and anywhere, but it’s especially common in the afternoon or evening. It’s not just a drink, it’s a way of life.

So there you have it, folks. The ultimate guide to coffee etiquette around the world. I hope you learned something new and interesting from this blog post, and maybe even got inspired to try some different types of coffee yourself. I know I did. And now, I have a story to tell you.

A few years ago, I was traveling in Vietnam with a friend, and we decided to try the famous egg coffee. We went to a small and cozy cafe in Hanoi, and ordered two cups of ca phe trung. The waitress brought us our drinks, and they looked amazing. The coffee was hot and aromatic, and the egg layer was thick and fluffy. We couldn’t wait to dig in. But as soon as we took our first sip, we realized something was wrong. Very wrong. The coffee was sour and bitter, and the egg layer was salty and fishy. We almost spit it out, but we didn’t want to be rude. We looked at each other in horror, and then at the waitress, who was smiling innocently. We asked her what was wrong with the coffee, and she said nothing. She said it was a special recipe, made with fermented shrimp paste. She said it was a delicacy, and very good for your health. She said we should drink it all, and enjoy it.

We didn’t know what to do. We didn’t want to offend her, but we also didn’t want to drink that disgusting concoction. We tried to make excuses, like we were full, or we had to go, or we had allergies. But she wouldn’t take no for an answer. She insisted that we finish our coffee, and that we would love it. She even offered to make us another round, for free. We politely declined, and tried to escape. But she followed us to the door, holding our cups and urging us to drink them. She said it was a waste of good coffee, and that we were missing out on a great experience. She said she would be very sad if we left without drinking her coffee.

We felt trapped. We felt guilty. We felt nauseous. We didn’t know how to get out of this situation without hurting her feelings or making a scene. So we did the only thing we could think of. We chugged our coffee as fast as we could, gagging and grimacing as we did so. Then we thanked her profusely, gave her a generous tip, and ran out of there as fast as we could.

We never went back to that cafe again.

The end.