Cappuccino? Latte? It’s not just about what coffee you drink, it’s about WHERE you drink it! Check out our guide to the top 10 cities to drink coffee (and the drinks we recommend you try).
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Vienna, Austria
Visit a Viennese Kaffehaus for old world European charm, exceptionally poured coffee and a deep sense of history. Vienna is home to Europe’s first coffee house, The Blue Bottle Coffee House, which opened in 1686. In the 19th and 20th centuries, coffee houses became the meeting places for artists, writers and philosophers. They symbolized creativity and collaboration. So, when you’re exploring this beautiful Austrian city, be sure to settle into the felt seat of one of the city’s many historic coffee houses for a specially prepared cup of coffee.
Our Vienna Coffee Suggestion: Wiener Melange (German for “Viennese Blend”)
A Wiener Melange is black coffee mixed with coco and served with creamy milk foam on top. Yum!
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Paris, France
Ah, Paris! In such a striking city that is known for its strong café culture (and people-watching), it’s no wonder that it also offers up perfect lattes and espressos. There are thousands of romantic places to sip a hand-crafted coffee in Paris—take your pick! Choose a café with a view of the Eiffel Tour, the pyramid of the Louvre, or whatever else tickles your fancy.
Our Paris Coffee Suggestion: Café au Lait
A café au lait is comprised of warm black coffee mixed with hot milk. Served with a fresh, buttery croissant and your morning just became magnifique!
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Lima, Peru
Food-focused Lima is a great place to enjoy coffee, as the city’s cafes serve up a blend of drinks and sweets influenced both by Peruvian and European cultures. Sit down at one of Lima’s many cafes, and order up a coffee blended with organic, Peru-cultivated beans. If you’re looking for something sweeter, order a world-famous cup of Peruvian hot chocolate—this thick and rich drink will warm you from head to toe! Since the Peruvian Amazon is a proud producer of cacao, you know that the chocolate you’ll consume is of the highest quality.
Our Lima Coffee Suggestion: Simple Cup of Coffee or Hot Chocolate
Go for either a simple, strong cup of coffee with a side of milk, perhaps in the Miraflores neighborhood of Lima, or a full-blow splurge of a rich hot chocolate (why not? If you’re already in Peru, treat yourself).
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Sydney, Australia
Coffee drinkers will be delighted at the variety of coffees and cafes in Australia’s capital city. Before you order up your preferred drink of choice, consider trying the local favorite: a flat white. Enjoy the lovely Sydney weather, and sit outside year-round enjoying your savory treat! Or, if you’re looking for something more high-end, consider taking a “coffee high tea,” similar to the British afternoon tea tradition, but featuring coffee, sandwiches, cheesecake and other delicious bites.
Our Sydney Coffee Suggestion: Flat White
A flat white is an espresso-based drink, similar to a cappuccino, but with less foam. It’s a strong drink—not for the faint of heart!
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Kona, Big Island of Hawaii
Looking for an expensive brew? 100% pure Kona coffee is exclusively grown in north and south Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii, and it is some of the most expensive coffee worldwide. Thanks to Kona’s elevation and rich soil (courtesy of Hualalai Volcano nearby), this region is ideal for coffee growing. Coffee was originally brought to Kona in 1828 by Samuel Reverend Ruggles. After that, coffee became a booming agricultural good in the 19th century forward.
Our Kona Coffee Suggestion: Kona Blend drip coffee
If you’re sipping some of the best coffee in the world, why order a fancy drink? Keep it simple with a cup of Kona Blend drip coffee, maybe with a little cream on the side.
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Siem Reap, Cambodia
With a booming tourist industry, thanks to the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor Wat, the town of Siem Reap has a wide variety of cafes and restaurants to choose from, managed by expats and locals alike. Whether you’re looking for a Thai-style iced coffee (topped with very heavy cream or condensed milk), or a French latte (left over from French colonialism in the region, perhaps?) you won’t be disappointed. Coffee standards and café culture in this little town is strong, and with so many visitors from around the world, you’re sure to meet a variety of characters while sipping your caffeinated drink of choice!
Our Siem Reap Coffee Suggestion: Cold Brew
Cool off from the tropical jungle heat with a chilly cold brew, topped with cream and some cane sugar.
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Athens, Greece
The sprawling city of Athens has no shortage of cafes to choose from when you visit. Whether you’re looking for something authentically local or new and trendy, you’ll have your pick! For a classic Greek coffee experience, drop by a mom and pop shop and order a simple coffee—you should be served a small demitasse cup filled with a piping hot, gritty brew. It probably won’t be sweetened, so be prepared!
Our Athens Coffee Suggestion: Sweet Boiled Coffee
For the sugar enthusiasts out there, order a sweet boiled coffee, which is prepared like a standard Greek coffee, but 1 part coffee grounds and 2 parts sugar, with a little foam on top.
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Rome, Italy
You can’t write an article like this and leave out Rome. Cafes and coffee in Italy are cultural mainstays that have influenced the world. Coffee was introduced to Europe in the 17th century, but it wasn’t until the 19th century that a new Italian steam-driven coffee machine resulted in espresso. In Rome, espresso drinks and cafes are still a huge part of day-to-day life, as well as a part of the city’s history. Be sure to stop by Caffe Grecco, founded in 1760 and considered to be the city’s oldest cafe and the second oldest in the entire country.
Our Rome Coffee Suggestion: Cappuccino
Order this espresso-based drink with 1/3 of the cup filled with “dry” foam on top. Add a little sugar, and you’re set to go! But, beware of making a faux pas—cappuccinos in Rome are traditionally a breakfast drink only and shouldn’t be ordered in the afternoon.
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Copenhagen, Denmark
Danes love their coffee! In fact, Danes purchase and consume more coffee than nearly any other country around the world. Maybe this is because of the long, dark winters that leave most of the country with long nights and short days for half of the year, or maybe the Danes know a special caffeine secret that the rest of us don’t know about yet. Either way, Copenhagen and most other large Danish cities are filed with cafes that are packed year-round! Pick from one of many cafes, perhaps along the colorful harbor street of Nyhavn, and enjoy.
Our Copenhagen Coffee Suggestion: “Kaffee” Latte
Try a fancy hand-crafted latte at one of many cafes throughout Copenhagen, and you won’t be disappointed. Order a cheesecake or pastry on the side!
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Havana, Cuba
Coffee in Cuba is as much about drinking as it is about community. You’ll see crushes of people drinking coffee at small cafes or buying coffee from people’s windows between 7 and 9 am. It’s a great opportunity to people watch and to get out on the streets to see Havana’s colorful neighborhoods and historic architecture. Havana’s coffee obsession and culture took shape following the Revolution, as the drink became a symbol of pride and tradition. Because coffee was rationed for years, people started making their own brews, such as café con chicharo, which is a brew of coffee beans and chickpeas, made to stretch out a shrinking bean supply.
Our Havana Coffee Suggestion: Café Cubano
Café Cubano, popular worldwide, is simply made up of an espresso shot sweetened with demerara sugar; short and to the point!
