14 Unique Coffees from Around the World You Should Try

If you’ve been drinking the same latte or flat white every morning, it might be time to explore how people around the world enjoy their coffee. From whipped egg yolks in Hanoi to spicy grinds in Marrakech, coffee takes on surprising forms across borders. These aren’t just drinks—they’re cultural rituals, comfort foods, and sometimes even UNESCO-recognized traditions.

There are 14 unique coffee styles covered here—from Vietnam’s egg coffee to Ethiopia’s ceremonial brew—each with specific ingredients, preparation steps, and cultural roots you won’t find in your local café.

1. Egg Coffee – Vietnam

A breakfast staple in Vietnam, egg coffee blends a whisked mixture of egg yolk, sweetened condensed milk, sugar, butter, and cheese until thick and fluffy. This velvety topping is spooned over hot black coffee, creating a dessert-like drink reminiscent of tiramisu. It’s especially popular in Hanoi.

2. Cheese Coffee – Finland

In Finland, coffee is sometimes served with a slice or cube of local cheese placed at the bottom of the cup. Hot coffee is poured over the cheese, and drinkers are meant to eat the softened cheese at the end. The result is a savory-sweet contrast unique to Finnish coffee culture.

3. Canned Coffee – Japan

Japan is the birthplace of canned coffee, with countless brands and flavors available nationwide. Found in convenience stores and vending machines, these ready-to-drink options range from black to milk-based and flavored varieties. They’re convenient, consistent, and deeply embedded in Japanese daily life.

4. Turkish Coffee – Turkey

Turkish coffee isn’t just a drink; it’s part of a UNESCO-recognized cultural tradition. The coffee is unfiltered, finely ground, and boiled with water (and sometimes sugar) in a special cezve. It’s served in small cups, often with a glass of water, and the grounds settle at the bottom. Its intense, sludgy profile is unforgettable.

5. Spiced Coffee – Morocco

Moroccan coffee is brewed with a blend of spices such as sesame, black pepper, and nutmeg added during the grind. The resulting brew carries warm, aromatic notes that blend seamlessly with the coffee’s natural flavors. It’s a fragrant, spiced take on traditional brewing.

6. Clay Pot Coffee – Mexico

Mexican coffee brewed in a traditional clay pot is often infused with cinnamon and coarse brown sugar. The pot imparts earthy undertones, while the spices add bold flavor. This method highlights Mexico’s rich coffee heritage and produces a full-bodied, rustic cup.

7. Café au Lait – France

In France, café au lait means coffee with a generous amount of steamed milk. Unlike a latte, it typically uses brewed coffee rather than espresso, resulting in a richer, creamier texture. It’s a staple of French breakfasts and evokes simple, classic elegance.

8. Layered ‘Sandwich’ Coffee – Spain

This eye-catching Spanish coffee layers espresso with sweetened condensed milk (similar to evaporated milk), which sinks to the bottom, creating distinct strata. The sweetness contrasts with the bitterness, making it both fun and flavorful. It’s easy to recreate at home for a dramatic presentation.

9. Lemon Espresso – Italy (Rome)

In Rome, some coffee drinkers add a slice of lemon to their espresso. The citrus cuts through the intensity and adds a surprising brightness to the shot. Though unconventional, it’s a regional favorite worth trying at least once.

10. Flat White – Australia & New Zealand

Flat white resembles a latte but uses less steamed milk and microfoam, highlighting the coffee’s flavor more than the milk’s. It’s creamier and stronger than a latte, with a velvety texture and bold coffee taste—popular across Australasia.

11. Frappé – Greece

Greece’s frappé is an iced coffee made with instant coffee, water, sugar, ice, and topped with milk foam. It’s shaken to create a frothy top and is especially popular during the hot summer months. It’s refreshing, sweet, and deeply associated with Greek café culture.

12. Hong Kong-Style Yuanyang – Hong Kong

Yuanyang, or “mallard duck,” is a equal-parts mix of coffee and Hong Kong-style milk tea. The contrasting flavors of black tea and dark roast coffee create a bold, layered drink that’s both energizing and uniquely Hong Kong.

13. Cuban Coffee

Authentic Cuban coffee is a strong, dark espresso, usually sweetened with just a bit of sugar—or none at all—and served without milk. It’s bold, syrupy, and meant to be sipped quickly. Often enjoyed as a cortadito (small espresso with sugar), it delivers a powerful caffeine kick.

14. Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony

In Ethiopia, coffee is far more than a drink—it’s an elaborate ceremony. The process includes roasting green beans, grinding them by hand, and brewing in a jebena (clay pot) over hot coals. The coffee is served in three rounds: Abol, Tona, and Baraka. It remains a central social and spiritual ritual in Ethiopian culture.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is egg coffee and where does it come from?

Egg coffee originates from Vietnam, particularly Hanoi. It’s made by whipping egg yolks with sweetened condensed milk, sugar, butter, and sometimes cheese into a fluffy mixture, then spooning it over hot black coffee for a rich, dessert-like drink.

Why is cheese added to coffee in Finland?

In Finland, a slice of local cheese is placed at the bottom of a coffee cup. Hot coffee is poured over it, and once softened, the cheese is eaten along with the drink, offering a unique sweet-and-salty coffee experience.

What makes Turkish coffee different from regular coffee?

Turkish coffee is unfiltered, finely ground, and traditionally brewed in a cezve. It’s served with the fine grounds settled at the bottom of the cup, resulting in a thick, strong, and sludgy brew that’s part of a recognized cultural heritage.

What is a Spanish ‘layered’ coffee?

The Spanish layered coffee combines espresso with sweetened condensed milk that sinks to the bottom, creating distinct layers. It’s visually striking and offers a sweet contrast to the bitter coffee.

What’s special about Ethiopian coffee ceremonies?

Ethiopian coffee ceremonies involve roasting green beans, hand-grinding, and brewing in a clay pot over hot coals. The coffee is served in three rounds, each with its own name and strength, and is a central cultural and social ritual.

Is flat white stronger than latte?

Flat white has less milk and foam than a latte, allowing the coffee flavor to be more prominent. It’s creamier due to microfoam but delivers a bolder coffee taste compared to a latte.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Global Coffee Exploration

Try FrontStreet’s Lintong Mandheling from Indonesia, known for its bold herbal, spicy, and toasty notes with low acidity. For a gentler yet rich cup, the 2013 Yunnan Ironica offers balanced chocolate, nut, and tea flavors. Both beans reflect the diverse flavor profiles found in global coffee cultures. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.