25 Most Popular Coffee Drinks Around the World You’ll Want to Try at Home

We’ve rounded up the 25 most popular coffee drinks around the world for you to sample in your travels. Even better, you can make many of these java drinks at home to indulge in your caffeine pleasures. Some of these world coffee drinks take only a few ingredients using equipment you already have, others are more about the technique. 

One thing is for sure, if you’re into coffee (like I am), you just hit the jackpot with this list of coffee drinks. Explore the 25 of the most popular types of coffee so your coffee-loving taste buds can go on an adventure of their own.

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CONTENTS: In this article, you’ll learn all about the most popular coffee drinks around the world you’ll want to try at home, including:

1. Affogato from Italy
2. Amarula Coffee from South Africa
3. Black Jack from France
4. Bread Belly Ice Coffee
5. Butter Coffee from USA
6. Ca phe sua da in Vietnam
7. Carajillo from Mexico
8. Cafe from France
9. Cafe Cubano from Cuba
10. Cappuccino from Italy
11. Caipirinha Coffe from Brazil
12. Coconut Water Coffee from Thailand
13. Egg Coffee from Vietnam
14. Flat White from Australia
15. Frappé in Greece
16. Geisha Coffee from Panama
17. Iced Coffee from Slovakia
18. Ipoh White from Malaysia
19. Khava from Bosnia
20. Kopi Luwak from Indonesia
21. Lao Coffee from Laos
22. Mazagran from Portugal
23. Melange from Vienna
24. Tinto from Colombia
25. Turkish Coffee in Turkey

25 Best Coffee Drinks in the World

Don’t get me wrong.

I love a good cuppa Dunkin Donuts coffee, “regulah,” and a Venti Bold from Starbucks.

But there’s a whole world of coffee out there. There are so many different types of coffee you can try!

Here’s the good news.

You are about to discover the 25 most popular coffee drinks in the world!

You’ll find them listed alphabetically below, so be sure to check them all out.

Whether you try them while you’re traveling, or make them at home, you’re sure to be delighted.

Affogato from Italy

By Francesca Brooking from Little Lost Travel | Instagram

For a dessert or beverage that matches simplicity with exquisite taste, it would have to be the affogato. Originally from Italy, the traditional treat is made with two key ingredients – espresso and vanilla gelato.

To make it, you simply pour a shot of espresso over a scoop or two of gelato (ice cream works just as well if you’re making it at home). You could even add a shot of amaretto or coffee liqueur for an extra nip of indulgence. 

Eat it straight away before the ice cream melts completely. The result is a deliciously creamy hybrid of hot coffee blended with a cool creamy sweetness.

The word ‘affogato’ comes from the Italian word ‘affogare’ which literally translates to ‘to drown’ which is fitting given the gelato is drowned in coffee. 

Its history, however, is a little more complicated. 

The heavenly concoction is thought to have been invented in the late 1800s around the same time as the espresso machine. It only became popular in the US and around the world in the late 1900s, a hundred years later.

Just like any good dish, the affogato is not without its contentions. While it’s widely considered a dessert, some restaurants and cafes in Italy believe it to be a beverage. The debate is still ongoing.

If you want to try the traditional version in Italy, look for any good restaurant, cafe, or gelateria.

Related Article: Read more about the best food experiences in Rome.

Amarula Coffee from South Africa

By Campbell and Alya at Stingy Nomads | Facebook

Amarula Coffee is a popular hot alcoholic dessert drink to have on cold nights in South Africa, many coffee shops in Cape Town serve this delicious drink. 

It is easy to make at home, and it’s one of the best alcohol coffee drinks in the world! The process is similar to making an Irish coffee. Just prepare your favorite coffee and add two shots of Amarula Cream and garnish, as follows:

Ingredients:

• 3 parts coffee
• 1 part Amarula
• Brown sugar, to taste

You can add whipped cream and garnish with cinnamon or chocolate shavings, if you’d like.

Amarula Cream is an exotic smooth, cream liqueur with the taste of the wild marula fruit from Southern Africa. The marula fruit is harvested from wild marula trees in Africa – they do not grow anywhere else on earth. 

Amarula cream is available in liquor stores all over the world. If you can not find it at home, you can replace it with Bailey’s cream.

Black Jack from France

By Elisa from France Bucket List | Instagram

The cocktail, Black Jack, is one of the favorite drinks in France, combining cold coffee with French Cognac and Kirsch. It’s one of the best French coffee drinks!

Black Jack was invented at the beginning of the 20th century by the sommelier Jacques Straub, who had a long experience in the wine and liquor industry in Europe. Jacques Straub is best known for his ‘Manual of Mixed Drinks’ published in 1913. 

Unfortunately, M. Straub invented the Black Jack after 1913 so you won’t find it amongst the delicious cocktail recipes in this book.

Even so, this is a cocktail with simple ingredients and very easy to prepare. 

1. The main ingredient is French Cognac (1 ½ parts). 
2. And then there’s cold coffee (1/2 part), Kirsch or cherry water (1/2 part), and brown sugar syrup (1/4 part). 
3. Put everything on a cocktail shaker with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail or coupe glass.

The Black Jack is usually decorated with three brandied cherries on a pick which gives a touch of color to this brownish cocktail and makes it even more appealing.

If you don’t have French Cognac, you can replace it with brandy; just know that the original recipe is with French Cognac!

Finally, if you usually like the coffee sweeter, feel free to double the dose of syrup. 

Cheers to mixed coffee drinks!

Related Article: You’ll find more fantastic cocktails of the world here.

Breadbelly Ice Coffee

By Noel Morata at Visit California and Beyond | Instagram

San Francisco is home to so many favorite coffee bars, bakeries, and popular cafe coffee hang outs throughout the city. Many make their own versions of the famous coffees with Mocha, Americano, Cappuccino, and then experimenting with different fusion styles of coffee drinks. 

One of those concocted here in San Francisco is at the Breadbelly bake shop. Of course, you can order some of the standard signature drinks. But why do that when you can try their unique iced coffee drink that will definitely give you a powerful buzz? 

Breadbelly coffee is made with a combination of strong half black coffee and black tea, mixed with condensed milk to give a sweet flavor to both caffeinated profiles. This iced coffee packs a powerful punch. It’s also sweet to the taste, a welcome drink for those that love infused flavors with some sweet added.

Breadbelly is one of those new coffee bakery shops that you can easily lounge in all day. When you visit, you’ll want to try all the different flavored coffee drinks and delicious pastries, or California and Pan Asian inspired dishes to compliment your drinks. 

And when you are looking for something a little different with a twist for coffee, try this iced coffee drink and you’ll be raring to go around town full of energy.

Butter Coffee, United States

By Steve from Maps Over Coffee | Facebook

When it comes to unique coffees around the world, there will generally be some combination of coffee, milk, and sugar. A subtle change in one of these ingredients when makes a coffee ubiquitous to a region.

However, at least one style has chosen a different path by adding a new ingredient: butter.

Butter? In coffee? Must be American, right?

In fact it is, but maybe not for the reason you’re thinking.

It’s easy to assume that the same country that introduced fried Twinkies would be the one to put extra fat in their coffee.

Actually, it’s a spin on a traditional yak butter tea. The extra fat and calories are welcomed additions for nomadic yak farmers in the cold winters of Tibet.

Bulletproof Style

American bulletproof style has adopted that as part of a keto or paleo diet. But you don’t have to subscribe to either of those to enjoy this creamy take on coffee.

In fact, tweaking the ingredients a little when making coffee can even improve it..

For the purist, here is how butter coffee is made:

1. Blend a cup of high quality drip coffee with 1-2 tablespoons of unsalted grass-fed butter or ghee and 1-2 tablespoons of mct oil. 
2. Blend on high for 20-30 seconds. 

And there you have a frothy drink that rivals a cappuccino.

Alternatively, substitute both the butter and the mct oil for 1-2 tablespoons of coconut oil. It works with any style from French press to pour over.

Add your favorite sweetener to the blender to complete this creamy coffee treat.

To order it at your local coffee shop, you can ask for bulletproof or butter coffee. They can even add a splash of heavy whipping cream and a packet of butter, which they usually have on hand.

You can also click here to get a bulletproof style coffee starter kit so you have everything you need to make it at home.

This is one of the best keto coffee drinks as an alternative to breakfast – or any time of day for that matter!

Ca phe sua da in Vietnam

By Rachel Rodda at Coffeewise | Facebook

As you explore the old city of Hanoi, it is impossible to miss the multitude of small family run cafes lining the narrow streets.

A popular meeting place for the locals, they are also the perfect place to sit and watch the world go by while sipping on one of the best Vietnamese coffees, Ca phe sua da (cold milk coffee).

To brew the coffee:

1. Place finely ground beans into the small Vietnamese phin, a small metal filter which is placed over your cup. (If you don’t have one, you can get a phin here.) 
2. Pour hot water over the grounds, like a pour over, and the potent coffee drips slowly into your cup.

Coffee was introduced to Vietnam by the French in the 19th century. Due to the lack of refrigeration and the humid heat, the locals used condensed milk instead of fresh milk to sweeten their coffee. The sweetened milk helps smooth the taste of the highly caffeinated and bitter flavour of the locally grown Robusta beans.

While most of the coffee grown in Vietnam is exported, it has become a popular drink countrywide and is served in many unique ways.

To make a ca phe sua da, combine the brewed coffee with ice and sweetened condensed milk. The result is a creamy, sweet, and strong coffee that is the perfect pick me up. 

And a warning – it may just become a new favorite way to enjoy a cup of coffee!

Carajillo from Mexico

By Shelley of Travel Mexico Solo |  Instagram

Coffee lovers, do not forget to pencil in a carajillo on your Mexico City itinerary! This cold coffee drink is pronounced “car-uh-he-yo”, and it’s served all over Mexico City.

Carajillos are popular at brunch, but usually considered a nightime drink — as they are spiked with a shot of Liquor 43. 

This Spanish liquor contains a secret blend of 43 ingredients, including fruit juices, vanilla, aromatic herbs, citrus and spices, so it’s on the sweeter side. Liquor 43 is both the perfect sugar replacement in coffee, and its ingredients help make carajillo the perfect after-dinner digestif.

A carajillo contains just a shot of espresso and a shot of Licor 43, and is served cold in a short glass.

When ordering, you have two options on how it’s served. 

• The first is with the coffee and Licor 43 combined with ice, shaken and finally poured over ice. This preparation leaves a nice foamy top, which looks like a latte. 
• In the second option, you’ll receive the coffee poured over Licor 43 and ice. If poured slowly, the dark brown/black coffee floats to the top, and the amber liquor remains on the bottom, for a classy two-colored effect.

Carajillos are often considered a posh or big city drink, so be on the lookout for them in larger cities and upscale restaurants and bars throughout Mexico. It’s one of the most popular coffee drinks!

They are also served in other Latin and Latin American countries, like Spain, Colombia and Cuba, though some countries use different liquors.

If you’re making Carajillo at home and can’t find Licor 43, you can substitute Tuaca or another vanilla flavored liqueur.

Café from France

By Nadine Maffre of Le Long Weekend | Facebook

Drinking coffee in France is much more about taking the time to pause after a meal, or on a cafe terrace, than it is about the drink itself. Perhaps it’s no wonder then, that the most commonly served coffee is also the most simple – café. 

Yes, the name literally means ‘coffee’ in English, and that’s what you get. A short sharp shot of espresso typically served in a demitasse (small espresso sized cup). 

You’ll always be offered a café after eating a meal (except at breakfast where bowls of milky coffee are more common), or when visiting friends in the afternoon. And don’t be surprised to see it being served late at night too. 

Consuming coffee in France also comes with its own etiquette. For example, ordering a café at the bar of a brasserie costs less than if you have table service. So it’s a big no-no to order at the bar and then move to a table. 

However, if you do order at the table, you’ll never feel rushed to leave as you do may elsewhere. Rather, it’s perfectly acceptable to linger over a single café for an hour or more. 

If you really don’t fancy taking your coffee hit so strong, you can ask for a café allonge instead, which is simply a café topped with hot water. Or, order a café crème if you prefer it with milk.

Café Cubano from Cuba

By Carley Rojas Avila from Home to Havana | Instagram

From the land renowned for its sugar, Cuban coffee has to be sweet. With at least a tablespoon or two of sugar mixed into an espresso-sized cup of coffee, Café Cubano will be sure to give you energy at any time of day.

Café Cubano is generally prepared using an espresso-style coffee, like Café Bustelo or Café La Llave, in a small pot, like a Greca. (You can get a Greca here if you don’t have one.)

To achieve Cuban coffee’s ideal frothy top, a small amount of the first coffee to simmer out of the pot is poured into the coffee cup and vigorously mixed with a tablespoon or two of sugar. This thick, sugary mixture will rise to the surface when the rest of the coffee is added for a frothy top. 

Once the rest of the coffee simmers up into the Greca, it is added to the demitasse cup to complete the drink. 

While Café Cubano is traditionally served as a black coffee drink with sugar, adding milk is a popular option as well.

You’ll find plenty of stylish and luxurious cafes in Havana and Miami serving Café Cubano and other Cuban coffee drinks. But, you’ll most commonly find it costing just a peso or two and served from a giant thermos, sold from windows of neighborhood houses and apartments in the streets of Havana. 

Drinking Café Cubano, more than just a morning pick-me-up, is an important way to share with family and neighbors, and an obligatory offering to friends who drop in to pay a visit.

Cappuccino from Italy

By Anda from Travel for a While | Facebook 

There’s no better way to start your day than with a foamy cappuccino. 

This is the Italians’ drink of choice for breakfast, but they will never order a cappuccino after 11:00 AM. (You know, they have their proper set of coffee rules in Italy.) The common belief is that all the milk in the cappuccino will interfere with your digestion if you drink one later than that.

The name of the drink may come from the light brown robes worn by the capuchin friars. When the milk in the cappuccino is mixed with the coffee, the color gets pretty close to their traditional clothing. It might be just a story, though.

Anyway, a cappuccino has three equal layers. 

• On the bottom, a shot of espresso made with finely ground dark roast coffee. 
• Next, some hot milk goes in.
• The final layer is milk foam. 

In Italy, the foam part is a work of art, made from fresh whole milk. The foam is very, very light and thick, the kind that will stick to your upper lip. 

But you’ll find lots of variations outside Italy, in our coffee-to-go societies. The milk can be skimmed milk, soy, coconut, or any other type of milk substitute. You can also add all types of syrups and sprinkle it with cinnamon, or cocoa. 

Whatever your personal preference is (they are all good coffee drinks!), cappuccino is one of the most popular drinks in the world and it will probably remain so for a long time.

Tip: If you want to make your own espresso-based drinks (like cappuccino) for yourself and your guests, you might consider investing in your own espresso machine. A good one can be pricey, but a more affordable Nespresso machine will make you feel like an instant expert! Then check out this site’s expert opinion about the best Nespresso Vertuo Pods.

Caipirinha Coffee from Brazil

By Bruna Venturinelli from I Heart Brazil | Instagram

Brazilian coffee is exported around the world. While only a tiny fraction of it is consumed locally, Brazilians serve many coffee cocktails throughout the year to celebrate this delicious beverage.

A popular one is a coffee twist on the national cocktail, the caipirinha. Brazilians simply call it caipirinha coffee.

So, this drink basically calls for lime, brown sugar, coffee, and cachaça, a Brazilian liquor made from sugarcane juice.

It’s very simple to make it at home. A basic cocktail with a muddler and cocktail shaker will do.

Here’s how you can make Caipirinha Coffee at home:

1. First, you need to muddle the lime to release its juice. 
2. Then add the brown sugar, espresso, ice cubes, and cachaça. 
3. Finally, shake vigorously for a few seconds and pour it into highball glasses.

See how easy?

Don’t worry if the coffee is still warm. The ice in the shaker will make your drink nice and cold.

To top it off, you can garnish it with some coffee beans (if you enjoy eating them) and a slice of lime.

This caipirinha coffee is not only an excellent happy hour starter, but it also is very refreshing too!

Tip: If you can’t find cachaça at home, you can substitute light rum.

Coconut Water Coffee from Thailand

By Lina from Bucke List Places | Instagram 

You’ll find many unique types of food and drinks to experience when traveling around Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. For coffee lovers, the coconut water coffee in Thailand is a delicious mix of flavors — and is an absolute must try.

Found in the southern part of Thailand, coconut water coffee mixes flavors of delicious, dark espresso combined with coconut water. 

The drink comes in two parts: The first is espresso which comes in an empty coconut shell. The second part is a glass of fresh coconut water. 

To drink this drink properly, you need to pour the fresh coconut water into the coconut shell containing the espresso. The result is a deep flavor of dark espresso smoothed out by the coconut water.

Coconuts are a big part of Thai history and culture. Thai curries are often cooked with coconut milk and coconut water can be purchased fresh from vendors selling it right from the coconut trees. 

This makes this coffee drink the ultimate mix of Thai culture and delicious coffee flavors.

Related Article: Make sure you know these 7 Do’s & Don’ts in Thailand when you visit.

Egg Coffee

By Marco Sison at Nomadic FIRE | Instagram

The strong coffee culture and low cost of living in Ho Chi Minh City allows visitors to enjoy fresh-brewed Vietnamese-style coffee (cà phê sữa nóng) several times per day. The coffee in Vietnam is cheap. You won’t find any “Starbucks latte factor” here –  and you won’t spend $5 for a cup of coffee in this city (unless you literally want to go to Starbucks). 

Instead, the coffee in Vietnam is brewed traditionally (traditionally being since French colonization in the mid 19th century) in a “phin” – a small metal cup with a perforated metal filter that fits over your mug. 

The phin is specially designed to slowly drip the added hot water through medium ground beans. The longer water contact results in a thick and shockingly strong condensed espresso.

A favorite spin to the traditional cà phê sữa nóng is cà phê trứng, or Vietnamese Egg Coffee. 

Here’s how it’s made.

1. First, the barista makes a traditional espresso as the base. 
2. While the coffee is slowly dripping through the phin, an egg yolk is mixed in a separate container with condensed milk. 
3. The egg mixture is beaten vigorously for 5+ minutes until the end result is a sweet, creamy meringue-like fluff. 
4. The meringue is spooned on top of the freshly brewed espresso. 

The combination of egg yolk, condensed milk, and espresso mixed together is like drinking liquified tiramisu in a coffee mug.

If you want to try making Vietnamese Egg Coffee at home, you can click here to get yourself a phin. 

Flat White From Australia

By Audrey Chalmers From See Geelong | Facebook

The flat white is perhaps the most confusing and controversial coffee drink there is. Often compared to a café latte, even in the coffee world, there are no definitive rules with every coffee shop serving a slightly different drink.

However, a flat white should have a strong coffee taste, a small amount of steamed milk, and a thin layer of microfoam. 

Traditionally, it has two shots of espresso, but some baristas prefer to use ristrettos (a single concentrated shot) with less milk to help maintain the coffee flavor.

Stronger than a café latte but smoother than a cappuccino, flat white is a great coffee drink that allows you to taste the espresso with the mouth-pleasing silkiness of steamed milk.

You’ll find there is much debate about whether the flat white was first created in Australia or New Zealand. Most likely it naturally evolved in both countries as a way for consumers to transition from instant coffee drinks to espresso-based drinks.

Coffee drinkers weren’t keen on the cappuccinos of the time, mounded with stiff foam. They began asking for a “flat” coffee instead, and thus the flat white was born.

Australia seems to be winning the debate, however, with the menus of Starbucks and other coffee houses calling flat white coffee an Australian creation. 

Either way, the flat white is a delightful addition to the coffee scene.

Frappé in Greece

By Maria & Katerina of It’s All Trip To Me | Facebook

From glamorous destinations like world-renowned Mykonos Island to the most remote Greek villages tucked away in magnificent mountains to vibrant cities such as Athens and Thessaloniki, there’s not a living soul in Greece that hasn’t enjoyed an ice-cold frappé coffee at least once in their lives.

Although the word itself is rooted in the French language, frappé coffee is an entirely Greek invention. 

The first-ever frappé coffee was made by Dimitris Vakondios in 1957, during the Thessaloniki International Fair. Greece’s signature coffee beverage was born out of this man’s resourcefulness. When Vakondios found himself in desperate need of his caffeine fix, he couldn’t get his hands on any hot water and decided to use cold instead.

Here’s how to prepare a Greek frappé coffee at home:

1. Shake a bit of water, a heaped teaspoon of instant coffee (traditionally Nescafe) and sugar (optionally) in a cocktail shaker until a thick foam is formed. 
2. Pour this foam into a tall glass.
3. Mix with ice-cold water, ice cubes and a bit of (traditionally evaporated) milk. 
4. Serve and drink with a paper straw. 
5. If you’re feeling festive, you can add a splash of Kahlua or Baileys to be added to your frappé.

Nowadays, the Greek frappé appeals mostly to tourists and romantics who can handle a strong coffee, as most locals have upgraded their taste in coffee by indulging in espresso-based beverages most of the time. 

That said, the frappé was the ultimate coffee beverage of choice back in the 1980s and it remains a symbol of the country’s pop culture up to this day.

Related Article: Learn these essentials tips for planning a trip to Greece.

Geisha Coffee from Panama

By Pam of Directionally Challenged Traveler | Facebook

One of the most luxurious cups of coffee in the world is Geisha coffee from Panama. Its bold taste and vivid character make this coffee unlike anything else in the world.

Found in 1931 in the Gesha village in Ethiopia, it’s a relatively young coffee which has no connection to Japanese Geisha. 

The beans were brought to Costa Rica to be studied at the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center. In the 1960s the plant made its way to Panama, but it grew slowly and produced less than half the coffee cherries than other plants. 

It wasn’t until the early 2000’s that Geisha coffee was re-discovered. The quality and taste was unlike any other type of coffee and was sold for $21 per pound. Since then, the price of Geisha coffee has continued to rise – with the most expensive being auctioned at over $1,000 for a pound in 2019!

If you’re looking to experience this incredible coffee in person, then head to Casco Viejo in Panama City. This historic area of Panama City has a variety of small coffee shops that each specialize in a type of geisha coffee. 

Do not put sugar or milk in the coffee as you won’t be able to truly experience the richness of the bean.

A typical cup (8oz) will cost anywhere between $11-25. That’s a small price to pay to experience the best coffee in the world.

At home, you can make your own Geisha coffee using these rare and exotic Geisha coffee beans. Or, believe it or not, pick up some Giesha Coffee K-cups for your Keurig!

Iced Coffee from Slovakia

by Slavka from On2Continents | YouTube

Slovakia, a small central European country, has a rich coffee culture. 

Slovaks love coffee as much as herbal teas and mineral water. 

When you order coffee in Slovakia, you can expect a high-quality beverage served on a small tray with a glass of water, a cookie, spoon, and a choice of sweeteners. Extremely popular are all Italian coffee drinks.

During summer, Slovaks love to enjoy iced coffee, but with a twist – ice cream. It’s called Ľadová káva or Ľadová káva so zmrzlinou. Basically, it’s an espresso shot poured over ice topped with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. This refreshing and sweet beverage is a perfect blend of coffee and dessert. It’s one of the best sweet coffee drinks!

You can easily make Ľadová káva at home. Here’s how:

1. Prepare a portion of coffee, either an espresso or a regular drip coffee. Any type of coffee you prefer will work well. Just make it a bit stronger, so it balances well with the sweetness of ice cream. 
2. You can either cool the coffee down before you create your dessert drink or just pour it over a handful of ice cubes. 
3. Then add vanilla, coffee, chocolate, caramel, or coconut ice cream. 
4. Freshly whipped cream and chocolate shavings on top will make it a top-class dessert. 

Finally, there are two more ingredients you need to enjoy it fully: At least one pleasant companion and a nice view.

Ipoh White Coffee in Malaysia

By Emily of Wander-Lush | Facebook

When it comes to unique coffee drinks around the world, it’s hard to top Ipoh White Coffee. This saccharine-sweet, highly addictive caffeinated beverage was born in the Malaysian city of Ipoh and is now drunk throughout the country – and across the region. 

So beloved is white coffee by locals and tourists alike, it even inspired Lonely Planet to name Ipoh one of Asia’s ‘3 best coffee cities’.

White coffee made its first appearance in the 19th century and is thought to have been introduced to Ipoh by Chinese migrants working in Perak’s tin mines. 

The name refers to the way the beans are prepared rather than the finished drink itself. The traditional process involves roasting the coffee beans in palm oil margarine. This imbues a special aromatic, caramel-like taste. 

Once ground and brewed, lashings of sweetened condensed milk are added to the drink to give it its characteristic pale colour. In Ipoh cafes, it’s usually served in a long glass over ice with an egg tart or a piece of toast on the side.

There is an ongoing feud between two kopitiam coffee shops in Ipoh that both claim to be the ‘original’ home of white coffee. 

Kedai Kopi Sin Yoon Loong has been around for 80-plus years and serves glass after glass to hoards of thirsty customers from the early hours until sundown.

Right across the street, Kedai Kopi Nam Heong is another old-school coffee shop that vies for the title of white coffee pioneer. 

The only democratic thing to do is try both and decide which one you prefer!

And if you can’t get to Malaysia to try authentic Ipoh White Coffee any time soon, you could always try this instant variety at home.

Khava from Bosnia

By Džangir Kolar at Dr Jam Travels | Facebook

Coffee or khava was brought to Bosnia by Turkish conquerors in medieval times. Drinking coffee has become a traditional daily ritual. This tradition is older than 500 years. People would sit by their coffee and chat for hours. 

You can try it all around the country. But the best place to try would be in the capital city Sarajevo, at bazaar Baščaršija. Serving Bosniac kahva has to be in the right way. You will get it on a copper plate. Coffee itself is served in a special container called džezva made out of copper and decorated with ornaments. 

It is drunk from a small cup called filđan. You will get sugar in cubes. 

So you pour coffee from džezva into filđan, dip cube, and take a bite of sugar, and take a sip of coffee. 

You will take your coffee straight without any milk. 

Besides coffee, you will get served with sweets called rahatlokum and a glass of sparkling water or juice. 

Also, preparation itself is interesting. Here’s how it’s made.

1. Put ground coffee beans in džezva.
2. For a short time, put it on the stove to roast it a bit more.
3. Then, fill half way with boiling water. 
4. When it starts rising, put it aside and pour water to the top. 

When made this way, you will get thick and creamy foam. Delicious!

Kopi Luwak from Indonesia

By Natalie Czarnota of Voyage Scribe | Instagram

Kopi luwak is known as the most expensive coffee in the world. 

Why? 

Because of its unique method of production.

You see, the luwak coffee is made from coffee beans taken from the poop of a luwak (or civek cat).

Before you get totally disgusted and refuse to try it, hear me out! It’s sanitary and has benefits!

Here’s the process:

First, the cute little luwaks run around the coffee plantation, eating the best coffee fruit. Then, they poop it out.

They dry the feces out, then clean and roast them. The beans are then hand-picked from their shells and roasted again.

Why go through all that trouble?

Historically, locals made coffee this way because Dutch colonizers wouldn’t allow them to consume the coffee growing on plantations there. So, Indonesians came up with the idea of making coffee from the beans pooped out by luwaks.

Today, this coffee is still made this way because of its unique flavor and lower caffeine content. (That’s because the beans have been partially fermented in the luwaks’ stomachs.)

Where can you find kopi luwak?

One place is in Yogyakarta on Java Island. And you can even visit a luwak coffee plantation if you’re in Bali.

So, you can find it all over Indonesia! A small cup in Indonesia will run about $2, but if you’d like a bag sent home, it can cost $500 for one kilogram (2.2 lbs)!

Or, you can click here to get a small bag of kopi luwak coffee beans shipped to your door.

Lao Coffee

By Marie from A Life Without Borders | Facebook

Known to be rich, robust and sweet, Lao coffee is sure to please those who like their coffee on the stronger side. Laos produces some incredible coffee; most of which is grown in the high plains of the Bolaven Plateau in the country’s south.

Lao-style coffee is pretty simple, but gives you a great bang-for-your-buck. Whole coffee beans are simmered in a cloth filter “sock,” before being pulled from a height in order to aerate, and bring it to the correct drinking temperature.

The best tasting coffee is brewed in a tin pot over an open charcoal brazier, giving it a unique earthy flavour. Once the coffee is deemed ready, it is poured straight into a small glass over lashings of condensed milk and powdered creamer.

Although the coffee looks a little muddy, there is no sediment; rather an intensely thick and rich brew, perfect for that early morning pick-me-up. Almost chocolatey in flavor, Lao coffee is usually accompanied by a mug of green tea, together with fried pastries.

In Laos, the coffee sock brewing method is traditionally used by street vendors – you won’t find this method in hip, modern-style cafes. To find a Lao coffee stall, simply look for the red-and-white cans of condensed milk piled in artful pyramids at road-side stalls.

If you want to try this method at home, click here to get a coffee sock.

Mazagran from Portugal

By Alice from Adventures of Alice | Facebook

If you’ve ever been to Portugal then you know how much the locals love their coffee. It’s a staple drink, and it seems like there is always someone with a cup in their hand. A Portuguese Mazagran coffee is one of those drinks that make this country so special. (And who here doesn’t love specialty coffee drinks?)

Mazagran is a type of coffee that was first created in the late 1800s. The name “Mazagran” comes from an Arabic word meaning, “to drink cold.” This type of coffee has become one of Portugal’s most popular exports and now can be found all over the world.

Portuguese Mazagran coffee is a favourite among people travelling in Lisbon, however, it can also be found up and down the country. If you’re a coffee-lover, and you’re looking for an alternative to your morning latte or iced Americano, this is definitely the drink for you.

It’s made with a shot of espresso which is then mixed with cold water. Mazagran has a refreshingly light taste that will keep your energy up all day. 

The drink is typically served in an espresso cup or a small glass with a sugar cube on the side and a slice of lemon. 

You’ll find Mazagran coffee is a heavenly brew that can be enjoyed in the morning, afternoon or even at night and has been likened to ‘a cup of strong tea.’ 

No doubt, Mazagran is among the best of the best when it comes to cold coffee drinks!

Melange from Vienna

By Anca from Dream, Book, and Travel | Facebook

The Viennese Coffee House Culture is listed as an UNESCO intangible cultural heritage due to its role in shaping the cultural landscape of Austria’s capital. At the heart of heated discussions about politics or art, countless hours of newspaper reading and people watching, and a mouth-watering array of Viennese pastry set on beautiful marble tabletops, sits the Melange, Vienna’s distinctive coffee. 

The melange is associated with any traditional coffee house in Vienna, from the elegant Cafe Central to the lesser-known neighborhood coffee houses where locals get their daily fix of caffeine, sugar, and news. 

Thus, when looking for a neighborhood to stay in Vienna, always make sure to check out the local coffee house. You’re in for an authentic treat.

A very close relative of the better known Cappuccino (don’t tell them I said that), the Melange is basically an espresso served with milk foam and, depending on the client’s preferences, a generous serving of cream (schlagobers or schlag in Viennese dialect). 

Traditionally, any coffee served in a Viennese coffee house is accompanied by a small glass of tap water on the side. 

Here are two very important pieces of advice:

1. Do not be put off by the waiter’s rude and standoffish attitude. It’s part of the tradition, the coffee house culture if you will, for your waiter to not be the serviceable Bonhomme you are used to from anywhere else.
2. Unless you want your daily caloric intake mixed into your coffee as cream, please mention very clearly you’d like your coffee “ohne schlag” (without cream).

Enjoy!

Tinto from Colombia

By Dan at Layer Culture | Instagram

Colombia is well known for its Arabica coffee beans which get exported worldwide. However, have you ever thought about how coffee is commonly served in Colombia? 

Anyone who has been to the country, or, is familiar with the typical Colombian food and drink menu knows that Tinto makes an appearance in every restaurant or bar. Tinto is the most common preparation of coffee in Colombia and it is served everywhere! 

The word Tinto, in this case, signifies a long black coffee. It is different from an Americano that is made with Espresso; the Tinto is usually made using one of the popular Colominba coffee brands such as Aguila Roja and is enjoyed throughout the day. 

Drinking coffee in Colombia is very much a family ritual and you will see families, friends from all social classes sitting around, drinking cups of Tinto. 

Colombian coffee culture is not only evident in cafes in the major cities such as Bogota, you’ll encounter street vendors howling Tinto… Tinto… Tinto… at the top of their voices. 

Buying a Tinto from a street vendor can cost as little as $0.15. Many people will add sweetener or panela, which is unrefined cane sugar. 

All in all, while in Colombia you must try this traditional style of coffee to get a taste of the real Colombian flavor. 

It’s one of the best hot coffee drinks!

Turkish Coffee in Turkey 

By Luda at Adventures With Luda | Instagram

A cup of coffee is more than just a caffeinated beverage for the Turks — it’s an entire ritual!

Dating back to the 15th century, coffee has such a place in Turkish society that it’s even part of the word for ‘breakfast’. Kahvaltı literally means ‘before coffee’. It’s one of Turkey’s additions to its UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Traditional Turkish coffee is made in a special long-handled pot called a cezve. Finely-ground coffee, water, and sugar are added to the pot and slowly cooked to create a foam. In fact, the foam is the most important part of the entire ritual and can make or break a cup of coffee! 

Speaking of sugar: when ordering Turkish coffee, the waiter may ask how you’d like your coffee — “sade” which means plain (no sugar), “orta” for medium (1 to 2 teaspoons of sugar), or “şekerli,” which means sweet (usually 3 or 4 teaspoons of sugar). 

Likewise, Turkish coffee is traditionally served with a glass of water (to clear your palate before drinking the coffee) and a small sweet, such as a piece of Turkish delight (rahat lokum) or some candy. 
Next time you’re traveling to Turkey, don’t forget to add a cup of kahve to your itinerary!

If you want to try making Turkish coffee at home, click here to get a beautiful cezve.

Final Thoughts on the World’s Most Popular Coffee Drinks

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world – and no wonder. What’s not to love about the rich flavors, the oily black beans, and the instant pick-me up you’ll enjoy? And now, you’ve got some great new recipes beyond the local fare! 

Coffee drinks don’t have to be the “same old” thing, when you’re adventurous – and especially when you know there are so many types of coffee drinks to choose from. 

Photo credits: All photos taken by contributors, unless otherwise noted. Affogato – Elena Veselova via Getty Images Pro); Greek Frappe, Black Jack, Mazagran, Geisha Coffee – Canva Pro