Best Places to Enjoy Coffee around the World
Published on May 10, 2011
Whether it be your morning cup to get your day off to a flying start, a cup mid afternoon with friends or a cup in the evening to wind down and enjoy the intense flavours; coffee is great at any time of the day.
For the true coffee lover, the search for the perfect cup of coffee isn’t over until they have explored every corner of the globe. Here are some of the best places to enjoy coffee around the world.
Paris
Cafe culture in the French capital is as inherently Parisian as the Eiffel Tower or the Arc de Triomphe, it is the way of life in this cosmopolitan city that enables its visitors to enjoy great gourmet blends with a French twist on almost every street corner.
The ceremony of enjoying a coffee in Paris is as impressive as the blends themselves, indulge yourself by spending an afternoon ensconced in a quaint coffee shop watching the hustle and bustle of the city going by.
Paris as a city embodies an effortless coolness that is replicated by very few and this is apparent in its coffee shops, pull up a chair on the sidewalks at iconic establishments such as literary favourite Cafe de Flore and Cafe des 2 Moulins the charming spot that was the setting in the film Amélie as the leading ladies place of work.
Rome
Italians take their coffee seriously and they know their favourite drink well. Visit Rome to learn more about the art that is coffee. Although the drink may not have been invented by the Italians they certainly have perfected it. Ordering coffee in Rome can seem intimidating due to the large selection available, but a bit of research before you go can help.
Melbourne
Coffee in Melbourne is regarded by some as the best coffee in the world offering visitors a combination of both Italian and local roasts. Melbourne as the second most populated city in Australia provides an idyllic coastal setting to enjoy the areas popular cafe culture.
Whether you’re enjoying a quiet coffee alone or outside in the sun with friends overlooking the beach Melbourne has an establishment for all scenarios. Pellegrinis Espresso Bar is a family run 1950’s styled coffee bar that has remained the same for years, including its gleaming espresso machine that is rumoured to have been the first ever in Melbourne.
Some differences in coffee drinking in Italy include standing at the bar to enjoy a quick espresso as sitting down will usual cost you more in a coffee bar. Also don’t order a cappuccino after 11am or after eating a heavy meal unless you want to attract some confused glances as this is regarded as a heavy drink only suitable for the morning.
Seattle
Warm up with a hot cup of coffee during one of Seattle’s many rainy days in the birthplace of Starbucks. Despite this it is easy to enjoy some delicious treats in one off coffee shops without having the need to enter the large chain itself, although whilst in Seattle it would rude to not enjoy a drink in Starbucks – just so you can say you have of course!
There are other shops like Caffe Vita situated in 5 locations across the city, they started with a desire to bring great espresso to the city and have succeeded in bringing a range of their own unique blends to Seattle’s huge coffee audience.
Vienna
The Viennese coffee houses or Kaffeehaus are an instiuation for these parts as much as classic musicals or the Vienna Ball. The history of the Kaffeehaus is long and distinguished and some even claim this is where the process of flitering coffee was actually invented.
It is quite accepted in coffee houses in Vienna for patrons to enjoy their coffee for hours alongside the obigitory glass of water that is served with each cup bought, you can take your time here, reflect and enjoy the atmosphere around you in the often historic buildings you will find yourself in.
Due to the relaxed welcoming atmosphere of the Kaffeehaus many great works of literature are beloved to have been written in them. Take a pen and paper with you, who knows you could write the next best seller!
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Members of the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe