Coffee Culture
Latest articles, industry insights and brewing guides
The Origins and Global Spread of Coffee
Discover where coffee began, how it traveled from Ethiopia to the world, and the key milestones in its global journey.
How Goats Led to the Discovery of Coffee
Learn how Ethiopian goats dancing after eating coffee cherries led to humanity’s favorite stimulant, and how coffee evolved from ritual to global trade.
A Veteran’s 10-Year Coffee Journey From China to Sri Lanka
After losing factories and investors, a retired soldier built a multimillion-dollar coffee and tea trade with Sri Lanka — here’s how.
What Beijing Cafés Taught Me About Coffee and Mood
From Starbuck’s predictability to a filmmaker’s hidden gems, here’s how coffee spaces shape your mood—and what really matters beyond the cup.
How Coffee Fueled the French Enlightenment
From Ottoman diplomacy to Vienna’s war spoils, discover how coffee entered France and sparked the Enlightenment through Parisian salons.
How One Woman Built a Coffee Life Around Flavor and Balance
From childhood coffee rituals to running specialty cafes, Zheng Yijun shares how coffee shaped her journey through taste, solitude, and culture.
How Coffee Took Root in China’s Culture
Coffee arrived in China just over a century ago, starting in Taiwan in 1884 and Yunnan in the early 1900s. Discover how it evolved from rare import to mainstream drink.
The Story Behind Irish Coffee: A Drink Born from Heartbreak
Irish Coffee blends whiskey and hot coffee in a specific 1:5 ratio. Learn how a Dublin bartender invented it for a flight attendant, and why it’s both a cocktail and a coffee.
Chinese Tea vs French Coffee Culture: Key Differences
Explore 5 core differences between Chinese tea culture and French coffee culture, from origins to social roles and drinking rituals.
Argentina’s Classic Cafés: History, Culture, and Coffee Rituals
Explore how Buenos Aires’ historic cafés shaped Argentina’s culture, from literary salons to tango clubs, and why 75 are officially preserved.
How Turkish Coffee Reading Works and Why It’s Still Popular
Turkish coffee readers interpret coffee grounds left in the cup to predict fortunes. Here's how the 15-minute ritual works, step by step.
The Shepherd’s Legend: How Coffee Was First Discovered
Learn how the popular story of coffee’s discovery begins with an Ethiopian shepherd and his hyperactive goats in the 6th century.
The Coffee Discovery Story of Sheikh Omar
Learn how Sheikh Omar discovered coffee in 1258 while exiled in Arabia, and how the fruit revived him and others, leading to its sacred status.
How One Man Brought Coffee to the Caribbean
In 1723, French naval officer Gabriel Mathieu de Clieu smuggled coffee trees to Martinique, surviving storms and sabotage. By 1777, over 18 million trees flourished.
How U.S. Presidents Made Coffee a Political Ritual
From George Washington’s 200-pound orders to Roosevelt’s gallon-a-day habit, discover how five centuries of presidents fueled America’s coffee obsession.
Royal Coffee: The Story and How to Make It
Learn the origins of Royal Coffee and how to make it with just 10ml of brandy. A step-by-step guide to this classic flaming cocktail coffee.
How Brazil Became and Fell From Coffee Supremacy
Explore how Brazil rose to dominate global coffee production in the 19th century—and how overproduction nearly destroyed its industry.
Germany’s Coffee History: From Bans to Global Influence
How Germany became Europe’s biggest coffee culture despite wars, bans, and trade disruptions. Discover the surprising role of German immigrants in Latin America.
How France Made Coffee Culture Its Own
Explore how 18th-century Parisian coffeehouses fueled revolution—and why the French still choose cafés over home brewing today.
How Taiwan Pioneered Coffee Culture in Asia
Explore how Taiwan introduced and localized Western coffee culture ahead of the mainland, shaping modern café culture and influencing the broader market.