10 Best Coffee Cups in The World
Quick answer: The 10 best coffee cups in the world include Italian espresso, Turkish black coffee, Ethiopian buna, Indonesian kopi luwak, the Australian flat white, Norwegian kokekaffe, Finnish filter coffee, French café au lait, America’s free refills and Mexico’s café de olla. Each reflects a unique local coffee culture.
Coffee is a global phenomenon everyone can agree on. Around the world it is an early-morning energy booster, a reason to socialise or simply a personal moment of indulgence. Many coffee cultures have creative ways of preparing this delicious drink, so here are some of the best coffees in the world.
1. Italian Espresso
Italians have perfected coffee making in the form of espresso. It is highly concentrated and served in small ceramic cups, topped with a creamy layer (crema) formed from the coffee’s natural oils. It is drunk quickly, like a shot, ideally before the crema disappears.
Some add a twist by rubbing a slice of lemon along the rim of the cup for extra flavour. Traditionally, Italians prefer their espresso in the morning and often drink it standing up at the bar.
2. Turkish Black Coffee
Known as “Türk kahvesi”, Turkish coffee is summed up by an old proverb describing the perfect black coffee: “as black as hell, as strong as death and as sweet as love”. It is brewed in a special copper pot called “cezve” and served extremely hot. Unlike the Italian espresso, a morning energiser, Turkish coffee is enjoyed more like a dessert.
3. Ethiopian Buna
Africa has some of the oldest and most traditional coffee cultures, along with beautiful, elaborate coffee ceremonies. “Buna” is an Ethiopian speciality carefully brewed in a ceremony that can last several hours. It is traditionally flavoured with butter and salt instead of sugar.
4. Indonesian Kopi Luwak
Indonesian coffee habits might seem unusual to the rest of the world. “Kopi luwak” gets its distinctive flavour because the beans first pass through the digestive system of a civet. The beans are collected from the civet’s droppings and then roasted. It is extremely expensive and highly prized.
5. Australian Flat White
A flat white is an espresso-based drink made by pouring steamed, finely foamed milk into a single or double shot of espresso. Sydney and Melbourne are the capitals of good Australian coffee, and some coffee suppliers in Melbourne also do white-label coffees, so you can find high-quality roasts in many cafés and restaurants.
6. Norwegian Kokekaffe
Norway is home to many cafés and some of the best baristas in the world. In summer, many Norwegians head outdoors and make kokekaffe, or “boiled/steeped coffee”, a traditional campfire method. Once the water has boiled, the coffee is added, left to steep for four minutes and then poured into cups.
7. Finnish Filter Coffee
It might come as a surprise, but Finland is actually the country that drinks the most coffee. You can buy fresh coffee everywhere: in cafés, supermarkets and even small street food stands. The most popular choice is simple filter coffee. Finnish coffee is typically roasted light, and the country’s excellent water quality is said to enhance its flavour.
8. French Café au Lait
Despite a preference for more intimate coffee routines at home, cafés remain very popular in France and keep their long tradition alive. Customers often order café au lait with a croissant or French toast.
It is made with very hot, strong filter coffee or a double espresso, often with frothed milk. The perfect café au lait is served in a thick bowl, with the milk and coffee poured in at the same time.
9. America’s Free Refills
Americans love coffee. In many restaurants and bagel shops, all you need to do to get a free refill is nod. Coffee houses thrive in large American cities like nowhere else, offering a huge variety of flavours and recipes: coffee with milk, cold coffee, cappuccino, vanilla coffee… you name it, they can make it.
10. Mexico’s Café de Olla
This is the perfect coffee for cinnamon lovers. It is made with ground coffee, cinnamon and piloncillo, an unrefined cane sugar usually sold in small cones. It is brewed in earthenware pots, which locals believe bring out its special flavour.
Best Coffee Cups in the World at a Glance
| Coffee | Country | What makes it special |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso | Italy | Concentrated shot with crema, drunk standing |
| Türk kahvesi | Turkey | Brewed in a copper cezve, served very hot |
| Buna | Ethiopia | Hours-long ceremony, butter and salt |
| Kopi luwak | Indonesia | Beans passed through a civet |
| Flat white | Australia | Espresso with foamed milk |
| Kokekaffe | Norway | Campfire coffee steeped for four minutes |
| Filter coffee | Finland | Light roast, top coffee-drinking nation |
| Café au lait | France | Served in a bowl with a croissant |
| Free refills | USA | Endless cups and endless variety |
| Café de olla | Mexico | Cinnamon and piloncillo in clay pots |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country drinks the most coffee?
Finland, where simple filter coffee is the most popular choice.
What is the difference between a flat white and an espresso?
An espresso is a concentrated shot of coffee, while a flat white adds foamed milk to a single or double shot.
What is café de olla made from?
Ground coffee, cinnamon and piloncillo, brewed in an earthenware pot.
A Culture We All Share
No matter how or where it’s made, coffee always seems to bring people together. Whether it’s a flat white or an espresso, enjoy your cup knowing it is much more than a drink: it’s a culture we all share.
Author’s Bio
Roxana is a Sydney-based travel enthusiast with a passion for writing. She loves fashion and has an eye for anything visually appealing. She is all about the healthy lifestyle, loves to run with her husband and dogs, and has fun cooking exotic meals for her family. You can find her articles on HighStyleLife.
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