1. Italy: Cappuccino
A cappuccino
is the breakfast drink of choice for Italians, traditionally served with a
cornetto pastry. Never drink a cappuccino after breakfast in Italy because then, it's espresso time. One third each of coffee, milk and milk foam, it eases you
into morning. Make your own cappuccino at home with this guide. If you don’t
have an espresso machine, you can also try a Moka pot or a French press.
2. France: Café Au Lait
The French sip this milky concoction in cafes. It’s made
with drip coffee, not espresso, in equal parts of milk and coffee. Since
special equipment isn’t required, it’s super easy to make at home.
Oh
là là!
3. Vietnam: Ca Phe Sua Da
Vietnamese coffee is very sweet and very strong, like a
lightning bolt to your morning brain. Brew bold coffee right over condensed
milk and top with ice. You can use a traditional phin filter or a French press.
4. Mexico: Café de olla
In Mexico, coffee is brewed with cinnamon, cloves, star
anise, sometimes chocolate and sweetened with piloncillo, an unrefined sugar.
The traditional earthenware pot used to brew it is called an olla, but if you
don’t have one, you can also just use a pot on the stove.
5. Austria: Einspänner
This coffee is marked by its creaminess. A double shot of hot
espresso is topped with a generous mountain of fresh whipped cream and garnished
with chocolate shavings or cocoa powder. The drink is usually served in a tall
glass with a delicate handle, named an einspänner after the Viennese coachman who
enjoyed coffee while working.
6. Scandinavia: Kaffeost
Cheese and coffee might sound frightening, but not when you think
about cheese being just another form of dairy and way less salty than usual
cheese. The cheese in kaffeost is traditionally made with reindeer milk, but
cow milk will also do. Easy enough to make at home, the baked cheese is creamy,
squeaky and soaks up all the coffee like a sponge. Serve in a birch mug for
extra authenticity.
7. Portugal: Mazagran
Pucker up for this cold coffee drink that is sweet and
lemony. Combine espresso and sweetener, pour over ice and add half of a
lemon. So refreshing on a warm day!
8. Australia and New Zealand: Flat White
A variation on a cappuccino or latte, this drink is 1/3
espresso and 2/3 steamed milk. It has no milk foam on top, but velvety steamed milk
throughout.
9. Ireland: Irish Coffee
Whiskey is the not-so-secret ingredient in Irish coffee. Mix
hot brewed coffee, sugar and whiskey together in a mug. Top with a thick layer
of double cream. In case you’re wondering, Irish coffee was actually invented
in Ireland in 1943, so it is authentic. It made its way to the U.S. in the
1950s.
10. South Korea: Dalgona Coffee
Dalgona coffee had its minute of worldwide fame a few years ago
when it trended on TikTok, but it’s still a delightfully delicious drink. Simply
use an electric mixer to combine instant coffee granules, sugar and hot water
into a fluffy topping. Pour over milk, iced or warm.
11. Greece: Frappe
You can enjoy your Greek frappe with or without milk or sugar,
but it’s always iced. Similar to Dalgona coffee, it’s a shaken version with
instant coffee, cold water and your sweetener and dairy of choice, though evaporated
milk is the usual. The result is a strong and frothy drink.
12. Germany: Pharisäer
Sign us up for this whipped cream and rum-spiked coffee. It
makes a decadent brunch sipper, divine dessert capper or lazy Sunday warmer.