Unusual Coffee Drinks From Around the World

Ever wondered what kind of coffee people actually drink in Vietnam, Turkey, or Finland? Beyond your usual espresso or latte, every country has developed its own take on coffee—some sweet, some boozy, some just plain strange. If you’ve never had coffee with an egg yolk or mixed with whiskey, you’re missing out on a global lineup of bold, localized brews.

From Vietnam’s egg yolk coffee to Spain’s liqueur-spiked carajillo, more than 15 countries serve up distinctive coffee styles you’ve likely never tried. Each region’s coffee reflects local tastes, history, and available ingredients—often in surprising ways.

America: Big Coffee Culture, Big Variety

In the U.S., coffee drinkers average 3.1 cups per day, with 103 million adults drinking coffee daily. The country offers familiar drinks like Americano (1:2 espresso to hot water), but also regional specialties. A Red Eye combines 1:1 drip coffee and espresso, while a Drip Coffee is simply filtered black coffee. Americans often enjoy these at home or in casual cafes.

Italy: Espresso Excellence & Standing Rituals

Italians take their coffee standing at the bar. Their coffee culture revolves around espresso—often consumed quickly and only in the morning with milk. Key drinks include: Espresso (pure shot), Cappuccino (espresso + steamed milk foam), Macchiato (espresso + dash of foam), Lungo (espresso + extra water), and Affogato (espresso poured over a scoop of gelato). Italy has 100,000 bars for 60 million people—more per capita than anywhere else.

Spain: Morning Fuel & Spiked Coffee

The Spanish start their day with a simple coffee and toast. Their common coffee styles include Café con Leche (2:1 steamed milk to espresso, like a latte) and Carajillo (espresso with brandy, whiskey, or rum). Breakfast is minimal, but the Carajillo brings a kick to the morning.

Portugal: Colonial Coffee Legacy

Portuguese coffee culture includes Galão (3:1 milk foam to espresso) and Cimbalino (a mild filter-style coffee). Portugal’s role in spreading coffee to Brazil—a major global producer—has shaped its own coffee habits, with much of its supply still sourced from its former colony.

Germany: Coffee With a Kick

As the world’s second-largest coffee importer, Germany serves drinks like Pharisäer (coffee, rum, sugar, and whipped cream) and Eiskaffee (vanilla ice cream, coffee, whipped cream, and cocoa). Though coffee culture began in northern ports, it eventually spread nationwide.

Austria: Imperial Coffee Heritage

Austria’s coffee scene dates to 1683, after defeating the Turks. Classics include Brauner (espresso, cream, water) and Einspänner (double espresso with whipped cream). Vienna’s Café Frauenhuber, dating to 1824, is among the oldest still running, once hosting Mozart and Beethoven.

Vietnam: Egg Yolk & Sweet Condensed Milk

Vietnam is the world’s second-largest coffee producer. Local favorites include Cà Phê Sữa Đá (ice coffee with condensed milk) and Cà Phê Trứng—Vietnamese egg coffee made with a whole egg yolk, sweetened condensed milk, and strong drip-filtered coffee. The egg yolk is whisked into a froth, creating a rich, custard-like drink.

Thailand: Iced Coffee With Sweetened Condensed Milk

Thai Iced Coffee blends coffee, sweetened condensed milk, and evaporated milk (2:1:1 ratio), served over ice. This style became popular in the 1970s when the Thai government promoted coffee farming over opium.

Mexico: Traditional Clay Pot Coffee

Mexican Café de Olla is brewed with cinnamon sticks and piloncillo (unrefined cane sugar) in a clay pot, using a 3:1 water to coffee ratio. Mexico is a leading exporter of coffee and a top producer of organic beans.

Finland & Denmark: Northern Coffee Obsession

Finns drink more coffee per person than any other nation—around 10kg annually. Their coffee is typically light-roasted with a little milk. In Denmark, 70% of adults drink 3–4 cups daily, often in offices for a mood boost. Stempekande Kaffe is made with a French press (1 spoon coffee per cup of water).

Turkey, Greece & Cyprus: Frothy & Spiced Traditions

Turkish Coffee is finely ground coffee boiled with water and cardamom. Greece and Cyprus serve Frappe—a cold, foamy coffee made with instant (or espresso), ice, and sugar. Turkish coffee culture was once so revered that women could divorce husbands who didn’t serve it.

Australia & New Zealand: Milky Flat Whites

The Flat White—a shot of espresso with velvety microfoam and steamed milk—originated in Melbourne in the 1980s, brought by Italian and Greek migrants. It’s now a staple of Antipodean coffee culture.

Hong Kong: Coffee Meets Tea

The city’s signature Yuanyang (or Milk Tea Coffee) blends coffee and black tea in a 1:1 ratio, sweetened with condensed milk. It’s served hot or cold and became so iconic that Starbucks added it to its Hong Kong menu in 2010.

France: Café au Lait Culture

In France, Café au Lait pairs espresso with steamed milk. Though known for casual coffee drinking, some cafes, like Petite Syrah in the south, famously charge less if you use polite language.

Ireland: Whiskey in Your Cup

Irish Coffee combines hot coffee, Irish whiskey, brown sugar, and topped with fresh cream. Created in 1942 to warm up chilled airline passengers, it remains a warming classic.

Netherlands: Milk-Heavy Coffee & Hidden Cafés

Koffie Verkeerd (meaning “wrong coffee”) is mostly steamed milk with a bit of coffee or espresso. Avoid confusing these cafés with “Coffee Shops,” which sell cannabis, not coffee.

India: Filter Coffee Tradition

Indian Kaapi is made with 2 spoons of coffee grounds, hot milk, water, and sugar, traditionally brewed through a metal filter. The tradition dates back to the 17th century when Baba Budan smuggled 7 coffee beans from Yemen into India.

Frequently Asked Questions

What country is known for putting egg in coffee?

Vietnam is famous for Cà Phê Trứng, or egg coffee, which includes a whisked egg yolk, sweetened condensed milk, and strong filtered coffee. The yolk is beaten to a foam and creates a rich, custardy texture similar to tiramisu.

Which country drinks the most coffee per person?

Finland holds the record for the highest coffee consumption per capita, with an average Finn drinking around 10kg of coffee per year—that’s roughly 3–4 cups a day.

What’s the difference between a cappuccino and a macchiato in Italy?

In Italy, a Cappuccino is 1 shot of espresso with steamed milk and foam, best consumed only in the morning. A Macchiato is just a shot of espresso with a small amount of milk foam added (“macchiato” means “stained”), giving it a slightly lighter color.

What is Turkish coffee and how is it different?

Turkish coffee is an unfiltered, finely ground coffee boiled with water and often flavored with cardamom. It’s served unfiltered in a small cup, with the grounds settling at the bottom. It’s so culturally significant that it was once used in legal disputes, including divorce cases.

What’s the deal with Spanish carajillo?

A Carajillo is a shot of espresso mixed with a spirit—commonly brandy, whiskey, or rum. It’s typically consumed as a morning pick-me-up and reflects Spain’s tradition of strong coffee with a boozy twist.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Global Coffee Styles

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