Coffee Culture
Latest articles, industry insights and brewing guides
When Coffee Shops Were Banned: A Brief History
From 16th-century Mecca to 18th-century Europe, coffeehouses faced bans for threatening rulers and rival businesses. Discover why and how coffee culture survived.
How Colonial Coffee Farms Shaped Global Coffee Culture
Dutch and French smugglers planted the first global coffee estates, transforming South American colonies into 18th-century coffee powerhouses.
How European Coffeehouse Culture Shaped Modern Café Life
Explore how 18th-century European coffeehouses became hubs of debate, chess, and intellectual exchange—far more than just places to drink coffee.
The Origins and Journey of Specialty Coffee
From 5th-century African highlands to today’s global cafes, here’s how coffee spread worldwide — with every key date and milestone.
How Specialty Coffee Spread Around the World
From Ethiopia’s coffee fruit cakes to modern espresso — here’s how coffee evolved across regions, roasts, and brewing methods.
How Scottish Café Culture Shaped Modern Math and Coffee
Discover how 1930s Edinburgh’s coffeehouses fueled breakthroughs in mathematics, including the famed Scottish Café and its legendary problem notebook.
What Is a Soviet Café and Why Does Russia Still Have Them
Explore the legacy of Soviet-themed cafés in modern Russia, from their nostalgic décor to ambiguous cultural messages, and what they reveal about post-Soviet identity.
Why Italians Drink Espresso Standing Up
Italians traditionally drink espresso quickly while standing — here’s why they skip the seat, the crema rules, and what time to order a cappuccino.
Why Brits Are Falling for Specialty Coffee
Specialty coffee is booming in the UK. Discover how the third wave hit London and how UK Coffee Week raises money for coffee-growing communities.
Bach and Coffee: The Composer’s Love for Leipzig Cafés
German composer Johann Sebastian Bach loved coffee so much he wrote a comic opera about it—and helped students earn money playing in cafés.
Napoleon Bonaparte’s True Coffee & Chess Tales
Find out where Napoleon left his military cap as collateral, why he struggled at chess, and which Paris cafés he really frequented.
Explore Hainan’s Local Coffee Culture on a 9-Day Trip
Discover the roots of Hainan’s coffee tradition, visit heritage sites, and taste local brews on a cultural road trip through Chengmai.
The Coffee Myths and Legends Behind the World’s Favorite Drink
Discover how coffee gained global popularity, from a goat herder’s discovery to Napoleon’s praise and Voltaire’s 72-cup habit.
How the French Drink Coffee Every Day: Rituals & Etiquette
Learn how the French enjoy coffee casually — or formally — with traditional etiquette rules, classic preparation steps, and the cultural dos and don’ts.
How Chocolate Flavor Makes Mocha Coffee
Learn why mocha coffee tastes like chocolate and how to recreate that rich, nutty, sweet profile using classic coffee beans and techniques.
Why Irish Coffee Can Actually Get You Drunk
Learn how whiskey in traditional Irish coffee boosts flavor—and why it’s more than just a warm drink. One shot is all it takes.
How Turkish Coffee Is Still Made the Original Way
Turkish coffee uses an unchanged, centuries-old brewing method with finely ground coffee boiled in a cezve. Here’s how it works today.
How France Made Coffee a Cultural Ritual
Learn why the French obsession with coffee goes beyond taste—discover their unique café habits, historical demand spikes, and love of outdoor drinking spaces.
How Chinese Coffee Culture Is Evolving
Discover how coffee culture is growing in China, from daily habits to local bean production, and why more people are brewing at home.
Vienna Café Culture Comes to Shenzhen
Experience authentic Viennese café culture in Shenzhen, featuring 30 traditional cakes and 14 classic coffees served in a historic European-style setting.