When you go to buy coffee in a supermarket, or in a local coffee shop, you’ll be surprised at how many different coffee options you have. You’d be double surprised at how many different places your coffee might be coming from. According to Investopedia, over 70 nations around the world are full producers of coffee.
That should give you a good idea of why it’s so common to find anything from Kenyan to Colombian coffee when you are searching through the shelves of your favorite coffee store. There are just so many to choose from!
But which countries should you visit from around the world if you’re looking to do a coffee food tour? We recommend starting with the following 4 to expand your horizons and tantalize your taste buds.
Colombia
As mentioned above, Colombia is rated as one of the best places in the world when it comes to coffee and espresso. They’re known for producing Arabica style coffee, which is what you’ll usually find at big chains like Dunkin Donuts.
Colombian coffee is often at its best when you try out their various Supremo blends. Even the most average Colombian coffee, though, tastes fantastic.
Pay attention when you’re drinking and see if you notice the caramel-like flavor profiles along with the nutty aftertaste that Columbian coffee is known for.
You’ll find that the locals drink the coffee in a variety of different ways (often guided by their socioeconomic position). Most commonly you’ll find café con leche which is instant coffee dissolved in hot milk or “tinto” which is essentially just sweet black coffee.
Italy
A nation is known for the making of coffee, no one quite does it like the Italians.
The entire day of the locals revolves around drinking coffee. You’ll find that many people enjoy a cappuccino with their breakfast, a macchiato with lunch and then an espresso after dinner.
It’s important to note that the Italians don’t typically take dairy in their coffee in the afternoon. For many, it is believed to upset the stomach. So expect to get a strange look if you try to order a cappuccino around dinner time. They’ll know for sure that you aren’t a local!
If you’re going to make the journey, a trip to the Iberian Peninsula is a must!
Fun fact: It was the Italians who actually invented the espresso machine back in the early 1900s. Many of the top selling brands of espresso machines such as Nuova Simonelli, La Pavoni and La Marzocco are used by businesses all around the world today.
Guatemala
Guatemala is one of the world’s largest producers of coffee. Much like other places in South America, they’re most known for growing Arabica beans.
You’ll find the flavor profiles in this country to be chocolate and nutty with hints of citrus. Some people will notice floral notes as well if their taste buds are
Do note, that coffee from Guatemala tends to be more on the acidic side. Even though the flavors are mild, if you tend to get an upset stomach from too much acid, you may want to limit how much coffee you drink in a day.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia is known as the “birthplace of coffee”. The plant has been growing in this region for an extremely long time as far back as the 9th century.
Coffee is such a big thing in Ethiopia, that there is a coffee ceremony that’s a key part of life for many of the locals. This ceremony takes place 3 times a day where locals will enjoy freshly roasted coffee with snacks such as popcorn and roasted barely. They take the time to sit back, relax and converse over what’s happening in the country and in their local communities.
Depending on which region you go to, you’ll find that the final products all taste slightly different. It all boils down to the grow conditions of the area.
If you decide to visit this country, taking part in one (or multiple of these ceremonies is a must!)
So which country will you visit first?