Coffee Rituals Around the World that You Did Not Know Of

Coffee has a special place in our lives and cultures. From downing copious amounts of this beverage to beat the afternoon work slump to celebrating the intoxicating fragrance of the beans in different parts of the world in unconventional rituals, coffee has cemented its place in our lives, discourses and several narratives. We love our tea, but coffee, too, holds a special place in our lifestyle. Sipping on a piping hot cup of coffee after a long and tiring day at work rejuvenates us at once and fills us with joy. There’s coffee comes to the rescue of a million people every day, at work, in gatherings, in solitude and in art. That is why it is an indispensable part of most cultures. That said, we know of instances where a writer would find her muse in this beverage and gulp down a few cups of the same as a ritual to create something.

 

We also know of a photographer who would use a cup of coffee as a prop to create an aesthetic frame. However, what most of us to do not know is that coffee has been at the center of different rituals all around the world. Yes, if no one had spelled it out for you before, know it now that there are various unconventional coffee drinking rituals around the world. 

Different cultures like their coffee in different ways and have elaborate rituals concerning the same. In the article that we have today, we shall look at a few of those weird yet beautiful rituals and add to our knowledge about one of the favorite beverages of the world. The thing about coffee is that it is always refreshing, whether you read about it or drink a cup. Therefore, without any further delay, let us learn a bit about these rituals and rejuvenate our minds. 

A Myriad of Coffee Rituals: 

This seemingly naïve cup of joe has a world of literature and beauty associated with it. From elaborate and lengthy rituals in Ethiopia to the quick espresso served at quaint cafes, coffee has a certain lure to it that not all beverages do. From what we know from history, the Ethiopian plateau is said to have birthed these beans. 

Trade and migration, then, took this beverage all around the world- from Africa to Europe and on to Asia and beyond. However, the beauty of the beverage is that each culture and part of the world adopted the coffee and made it it's own such as at West Berkshire Roastery.

Each part of the world came up with different, albeit unique traditions and methods of preparations. From industry professionals and homemakers who get their supplies from reputed stores like Fairlane Coffee to local chefs and café owners, everyone has different approaches to this beverage and their own rituals of preparing and enjoying a cup of the same. 

Throughout decades, coffee has served as the bonding factor between friends and family and as something that could signal a moment of connection, joy, and love. That said, let us now take a closer look at the different unique coffee rituals around the world. 

Sweden and Its Culture of Savoring a Coffee Break 

While in Sweden, you can never have a coffee to go. It is nothing short of sacrilege if you rush through your cup of coffee in Sweden. In Sweden, you fika with your friends, family or colleagues with a cup of coffee. This means that you need to sit down with your coffee, engage in some stimulating conversation or enjoy your solitude. But you need to take some time to appreciate and enjoy the flavor of this beverage. Coffee breaks in Sweden are true breaks in all sense of the term. 

It is a slow and immersive process where you enjoy your cup of coffee and have a fika, which means to take a break from your schedule. Coffee allows the people of Sweden the time and scope to unwind, relax and let their hair down for a bit before they dive into their rote and routine once again. 

Enjoy your fika with a sweet like kanelbulle along with your coffee or have the beverage alone; but the Swedish coffee ritual will ensure that you have truly savored every ounce of the flavor of these wonderful beans. 

Italy and Its Integral Coffee Culture 

Coffee in Italy forms an integral part of its culture. This beverage punctuates the days in Italy, and the people like to kick start their day with a cup of coffee freshly brewed at home in the much-celebrated moka pot. As the hours bleed by, people in Italy start frequenting the quaint cafes and have a few cups of espresso to rejuvenate themselves. 

Coffee in Italy serves as an excuse to strike new connections and preserve the old ones. Friends and family visiting each other begin their conversation by asking if the other would like a cup of coffee. Just like Sweden, coffee in Italy, too, take up quite some space in people's lives. The brewing mechanism is an utter delight as well. 

The moka pots can be found in every Italian kitchen, and coffee that is made in these pots is a slow ritual. The base is filled with water, and then the filter basket is placed on top. The coffee grounds are placed inside the pot, post which the top must be screwed shut. The moka is then placed over direct heat till the coffee fills up the top of the brewer. 

However, ironically, the meaning of the word espresso is 'fast,' contrary to the slow and steady ritual we stated a while ago. You always drink the espresso at the counter and get on with your day. Plus, when you make the espresso, you cannot afford to sit down and take your own sweet time, as you did in the other coffee ritual we mentioned earlier. Whatever it is, coffee makes for one of the most important beverages in Italy, and the people revel in the slow and immersive experience. 

Turkey and It's Fine Brewing Process

Turkey is perhaps one of those countries that has the finest and the most definitive brewing process. Now before we delve into the rich history of Turkey's coffee, let us have a look at this brewing ritual that Turkey is most famous for. The brewing takes place in a small brass or copper pot called the cezve, which is armed with long handles. 

Finely ground coffee is put into the water and heated in the vessel over an open flame. What makes the brewing ritual different from many other parts of the world is that the coffee is then served in its raw and unfiltered version. This adds a charming texture to the beverage that can be enjoyed with sweets galore. The delicate coffee grounds settle down at the base of the cup in which it is served. 

The Turkish coffee culture dates back to the time when the Ottomans brought coffee and this brewing ritual along with them from the enigmatic land of Yemen. The culture gradually gained massive popularity in the sixteenth century when the first coffee houses started opening up. 

This beautiful brewing method spread over many parts, including the Middle East, Greece, Turkey, Russia and the like, as the Ottoman Empire started expanding and sinking its teeth in different parts of the world. Though the brewing ritual can differ with each region in Turkey and can also be different with every family, it remains the same at its very core. 

Ethiopia and Its Elaborate Coffee Ceremonies 

As stated earlier in the article, Ethiopia is known to be the place where coffee originated. It is also one of the biggest coffee producers in the entire world. However, they do not export as much as they produce because Ethiopians love their coffee. The locals consume the drink in massive amounts, and some even go to the extent of saying that they would not survive a day without a good cup of coffee. The coffee ritual of Ethiopia is grand in every way and an event that many would want to be a part of. The ritual takes place in front of the guests, where the beans are carefully roasted, ground and then brewed in a clay pot known as a jebena. 

The coffee culture of Ethiopia is so extensive that drinking coffee comes in three parts. The first cup of coffee is called abol, which is the strongest and heavily condensed type of coffee. The grounds from abol are then brewed for a second time with fresh water to make what is known as tona. In the third step, the coffee is brewed once again to make the final cup called baraka. 

You can savor this coffee along with roasted barley or popcorn, and some people also spice the beverage up with salt, sugar and spicy clarified butter. Fresh herbs and cardamom or fenugreek are also at times added to the coffee. Even without the spices and herbs, Ethiopia's coffee tastes unique, a quality that can be attributed to the use of jebena. Ethiopians love their jebena coffee and will always choose this over any other kind of coffee. 

Vietnam and Its Thickly Brewed Coffee 

In Vietnam, people love to drink their coffee all day long and for more than once. Coffee in Vietnam, just like in many other parts of the world, makes for a drink that catalyzes social gatherings and events. People love to lay their hair down and relax over generous amounts of coffee. It makes for a factor that brings people together in joyous unions, much like Sweden and various other countries. 

However, it is the brewing ritual that sets the beverage apart from the rest on the list. Traditional Vietnamese coffee is brewed using an aluminum or stainless steel filter called a phin. The phin is placed over a glass and filled with coffee, and the brewing method is like an amalgamation of the immersion and gravity method. The process of immersion is similar to that of the French press; however, you also have to slowly pour water into the filter that is similar to the gravity method. 

The brew of Vietnamese coffee is quite thick and is discernable from the rest of them on the list by its strong, distinctive, and robust flavor. The coffee also has a nutty and chocolaty texture that is a direct result of using the Robusta coffee beans. Vietnam has three ways in which it prefers and serves its coffee. The first type of coffee is cà phê đen, which is what we know as black coffee. The second type of coffee is cà phê sữa, or coffee made with condensed milk. 

The third type of coffee is cà phê sữa dá or iced coffee made with condensed milk. There are other ways of making and serving coffee too. But these are the three most commonly used types of coffees that you can find aplenty in Vietnam. People in Vietnam love to immerse themselves in their coffee drinking ritual, and that is what makes this beverage such an integral part of their culture. 

Finally, On Coffee, Love and Intelligentsia: 

Every element or action has a connotative and denotative meaning. Coffee, too, has a world of meaning beyond just its denotative one. It is not just a beverage that we drink in the evenings or in-between our work to break the slump. Of course, it fills us with renewed energy and refreshes our minds. 

But it also stands for friendship, fostering new connections, and getting together with friends, families, and even strangers. Quaint cafes have seen more romantic relationships foster than extravagant pubs. Generations after generations of the intelligentsia have found their muse and ideas in these flavorful beans and shared their art and inventions with others over stimulating cups of coffee. 

These are some of the most beautiful and humble factors that make coffee one of the most loved beverages around the world. Now that you know about the different coffee rituals and traditions of different parts of the world, can we tempt you with a cup of joe?