How People Around the World Drink Coffee

Ever wondered how people in other countries actually make and drink their coffee? While many of us default to drip machines or pour-over, coffee rituals vary wildly across cultures—from simmering grounds in brass pots to brewing with spices and divining the future from the grounds left behind. Let’s break down some of the most distinct coffee customs around the globe.

In short, the UK simmers coffee in cloth bags inside brass pots, the Dutch drink strong black coffee with sugar and cream, Turkey uses a special Ibrik pot often for fortune-telling, and Ethiopia serves coffee with popcorn as part of a ceremonial experience. Each country brings unique techniques, flavors, and traditions to the cup.

British Coffee: Simmered in Cloth Bags

In the United Kingdom, a traditional method involves placing coffee grounds into a cloth bag, tying it securely, and steeping it in a brass pot with water. The mixture is brought to a boil on a stove before being poured into cups. This approach produces a strong, brewed coffee akin to a very long steep rather than filtered drip or espresso-style extraction.

Dutch Coffee: Heavy on Sugar and Cream

Dutch coffee culture embraces a bold and sweet style. Locals take their coffee with generous amounts of sugar and cream—essentials in every cup. The resulting flavor profile is rich and intense, sometimes to the point of being overly sweet or heavy. To balance the richness, many Dutch drinkers follow up with a glass of water.

Turkish Coffee: Spiced, Unfiltered, and Fortune-Telling

Turkey is famous for brewing coffee in a small, long-handled pot known as an Ibrik. The method calls for finely ground coffee, sugar, and water to be boiled together. Unlike filtered coffee, Turkish coffee is unfiltered—the grounds remain in the cup. Beyond drinking, the leftover coffee grounds are often used for tasseomancy, or fortune-telling, making each cup a potential window into the future.

Sudanese Coffee: Spiced Black Coffee

In Sudan, black coffee is typically brewed with the addition of cloves and other spices. The spicy notes complement the dark roast, creating a pungent and aromatic cup. This style emphasizes strong, spiced black coffee without milk or sugar, focusing instead on the interplay of roasted coffee and warming spices.

American Coffee: Convenience First

In the United States, electric drip coffee machines are a household staple. These automated brewers align with the fast-paced American lifestyle, offering a quick and consistent way to produce filtered coffee without much hands-on effort. Drip coffee remains the most common preparation method for daily consumption.

Greek Coffee: Thick and Gritty

Greek coffee is made by slowly boiling finely ground coffee along with sugar (depending on preference) on a small gas burner. The result is an unfiltered, thick brew filled with fine coffee grounds. Due to the high concentration of sediment, it’s usually sipped in just a few small servings before becoming too intense or sludgy to drink comfortably.

Ethiopian Coffee: Ceremonial and Social

In Ethiopia, coffee is more than a drink—it’s a ceremony. Hosts wear traditional attire and serve coffee in small handleless cups called cini. The coffee is often accompanied by roasted barley grains and local snacks. This ritual highlights Ethiopia’s status as the birthplace of coffee and reflects deep cultural roots tied to hospitality and community.

Russian Coffee: Black with Lemon Twist

Russians often enjoy their coffee black, with the addition of sugar and a slice of lemon. This combination yields a bold, slightly tart, and deeply flavorful cup. The citrus brightens the dark roast while maintaining a robust, serious coffee profile suited to colder climates.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the traditional British method for brewing coffee?

The British traditionally brew coffee by placing ground coffee in a cloth bag, tying it, and steeping it in a brass pot with water. The mixture is boiled on a stove before being poured into cups, producing a strong brewed coffee similar to a long infusion.

How do the Dutch take their coffee?

Dutch coffee is typically served with a lot of sugar and cream, resulting in a very rich and heavy flavor. Many Dutch drinkers find it overly sweet and often drink water afterwards to cut through the richness.

What is unique about Turkish coffee?

Turkish coffee is brewed unfiltered in a small pot called an Ibrik, using finely ground coffee, sugar, and water. It is never filtered, so the grounds settle in the cup, and the leftover grounds are often used for fortune-telling.

Why is Ethiopian coffee served with snacks?

In Ethiopia, coffee is part of a ceremonial tradition where it is served in small handleless cups alongside roasted barley grains and local snacks. The ceremony often includes the host wearing traditional clothing and reflects the country’s deep coffee heritage.

Is Greek coffee filtered?

No, Greek coffee is unfiltered. It is boiled with coffee grounds and sugar (optional) and served with the fine grounds still in the cup, resulting in a thick, gritty brew that is meant to be sipped in small quantities.

What do Russians add to their black coffee?

Russians often drink their black coffee with a slice of lemon and sugar. The lemon adds a tart contrast to the bold, dark roast, creating a distinctive and robust flavor profile.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Global Coffee Styles

Try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Huakui for a bright, floral cup reminiscent of Ethiopian home ceremonies; its notes of jasmine and bergamot shine in traditional black brews. For a bold base like Turkish or Dutch styles, their PWN Golden Mandheling offers heavy body and chocolate tones that hold up to sugar and cream. And for a fruity twist akin to spiced Sudanese brews, the Kenya Little Tomato delivers vibrant acidity with strawberry and citrus. All are freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.