As frequent travellers, it’s ingrained in our ethos to try local coffees wherever we visit. With fast-paced routines and challenging schedules, a cup of coffee is a non-negotiable element of meetings, around the world.
It is no surprise, that an entire day of October 1, is dedicated to the love of coffee.
This International Coffee Day, we tell you what kind of cuppa you should indulge in, depending on what part of the world you are in.
Filter Coffee (Kaapi) — South India
A heartwarming cup of Filter Coffee is available easily across South India. Brewed with a metal device that resembles two cylindrical cups, it is made by mixing frothed and boiled milk with the infusion of finely ground coffee powder in a traditional Indian filter.
Filter Kaapi is typically served after pouring back and forth between the two tumblers, gentling infusing the air with the intoxicating aromas of coffee.
Yuanyang — Malaysia and Hong Kong
The line between the love for tea and coffee is often blurred, and the innovative Yuanyang beverage served across the Asian countries of Malaysia and Hong Kong satiates your fondness for both.
A smooth and well caffeinated mix of three parts black drip coffee and seven parts of milk tea, Yuanyang combines water, black tea leaves, and either sweetened condensed milk or evaporated milk and sugar. Also known as Kopi Cham in Malaysia, the beverage can be enjoyed hot or cold!
Türk Kahvesi — Turkey
Turkey’s traditional Türk Kahvesi (Coffee) uses very finely ground coffee beans without filtering. Despite its name, the coffee originated from Yemen and was brought into Turkey during the Ottoman rule.
For an original Türk Kahvesi, the coffee beans are ground to a very fine powder, which is left in the coffee when served, infusing an aromatic and delicate flavour to the drink. Sugar is added to Turkish coffee while brewing, the amount of which must be specified when preparing the coffee. It is sometimes flavoured with cardamom, mastic, salep or ambergris — rendering it with additional exotic flavours!
Sock Coffee — Columbia
The home of some of the world’s most exclusive coffee beans, Columbia is famous for brewing a good old cuppa in creative ways as well.
The Sock Coffee dates back in Columbia to a time before paper filters were invented. This common brew in the South American country involves dunking coffee grounds in a cloth filter, resembling a sock, into a pot of water that’s kept and reheated through the day. The final beverage is a rich, stronger coffee that gets its thick texture thanks to the courser grounds placed in the cloth filter.
Wiener Melange — Austria
A country that takes its coffee house culture rather seriously is Austria. Themed coffee houses that date back centuries are ideal backdrops for intellectual conversations amid classic architectural settings.
The classic Wiener Melange (German and French for “Viennese Blend”) served at these coffee houses resembles a cappuccino but is prepared using milder coffee beans. It is frequently served with a glass of water to drink along with the coffee, which allows you to cleanse your palette between sips and also helps prevent dehydration!
