The best coffees create connections between you and the places that you have travelled to, as well as the cultures you experience. Coffee has the incredible ability to be similar across the world whether you’re sipping on a shot of espresso at an open-air cafe in Italy; having a cup of Ethiopian cardamom coffee in a crowded marketplace; or holding a flat white coffee in a laneway in Melbourne. Coffee truly is one of the most traveled beverages on Earth.
The world coffee industry provides an environment where on a global scale many exchanges occur and individuals from around the world can connect as friends, family and neighbors. Coffee also support communities through local economies. If you enjoy both adventure and coffee as you travel, understanding how coffee is produced, processed and marketed regardless of whether you are at home or abroad, will enhance every trip you take.
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The Best Coffees as a Travel Experience
For many people when they travel, coffee often becomes much more than just a daily routine. Rather, rather the best coffees are also a great way to learn about the culture and people of a given country. The way that a particular country prepares or drinks coffee will show you a lot about both its history and how fast or slow the pace of life is like in that particular country. For example, Turkish Mocha has been made and prepared for many centuries it is done very slowly (for example, ground coffee is brewed over hot water generally for an hour or more) and served in a very thick consistency as part of socialization with other Turks as an expression of its long-standing tradition.
Similarly, in Japan, the preparation of “third wave” coffee is done very precisely by using a pour-over method that can be likened to the ceremonial method used for Japanese tea. Lastly, in Columbia, whenever someone enters either a home or roadside stall there, the owner or operator will typically offer them a small cup of black coffee (tinto) as a gesture of hospitality.
Over the last few years there has been a rise in coffee tourism, meaning that travelers are visiting different countries in order to see coffee plantations, roasteries and different regions and cafés. Central America, East Africa and Southeast Asia are just some of the places that have been flooded by tourists hoping to immerse themselves in the whole coffee experience (e.g. Hand-picking the coffee beans, hand-processing the beans, cupping sessions with locals.)
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Understanding the Global Coffee Market
The market for coffee is among the largest international commodity markets. It impacts virtually every country globally as either a producer or consumer or both. Understanding some of the basic components of the global trading system may enhance your enjoyment of your next cup of coffee.
Major Coffee-Producing Regions
- Latin America- Brazil and Colombia are among the largest producers worldwide; their arabica is mild and balanced, grown at high altitudes
- East Africa- Ethiopian coffee is believed to have originated here, yielding fruity, flowery, complex arabica, though Kenya and Tanzania are also fine origins
- Southeast Asia- Vietnam is a large producer of Robusta, and Indonesian Sumatra and Java are rich, earthy arabica popular with roasters
- Central America- Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica etc. Are large producers of high-altitude arabica with a clean acidity and great flavor
Global Coffee Key Market Segments
- Specialty Coffee – Single-origin, traceable beans with distinct flavor profiles, typically roasted in small batches
- Instant & Convenience Coffee – Mass-market formats driving consumption in emerging markets and busy urban lifestyles
- Ready-to-Drink (RTD) Coffee – Canned and bottled cold brew and iced coffee products, popular among younger consumers
- Sustainable & Ethical Coffee – Fairtrade, organic, and rainforest-certified coffees responding to growing consumer consciousness
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Trends Shaping the Best Coffees Today
However, the coffee sector is not a static one. There are many exciting and strong trends which are altering coffee cultivation, trade, preparation and consumption across the globe, many of which are already visible to travelers.
The Third Wave Coffee Movement
We have a new breed of coffee experts in places like Melbourne and Mexico City who take coffee to the same place wine takes a connoisseur. We now have the idea of ‘terroir’, the process the coffee bean has gone through, the roast level, with which a barista can be familiar. These shops that embody these principles (as opposed to a chain coffee shop) have now become tourist destinations. People are going out to find a great cup of coffee, like going to an art gallery or an historical site.
Sustainability and Traceability
Coffee consumers around the world are now asking more about where their coffee comes from and how it’s grown. This has begun to create more transparency throughout the supply chain- from the farm to the cup. Several specialty roasters are now reporting on the details of the farms they work with, including price. This has become quite significant, in an industry where opacity has traditionally reigned.
Cold Brew and Alternative Formats
Cold brew coffee, nitro coffee and ready to drink bottled coffee are bringing new market segments into the coffee market. They are primarily targeting warm areas and young consumers. It will be common for travelers in Asian and American airports, service stations and beach sellers to purchase such products.
Global Coffee Culture: A Traveler’s Snapshot of the Best Coffees
- Italy – Espresso, drinking at the bar, it’s not a good idea to have a cappuccino after 11am.
- Ethiopia – The Ethiopian coffee ceremony (buna) is a ritual of preparing and serving coffee in three rounds, accompanied by incense and conversation, it is an institution in the social life.
- Vietnam – Order C ph trng (egg coffee) or C ph s (ice coffee) made with a phin filter.
- Australia – Australia is famous in the world for the flat white and it boasts an amazing independent cafe scene. Melbourne is an iconic place for coffee aficionados.
- Turkey – Turkish coffee is dark and unsweetened and unfiltered, served in a small cup with sediment at the bottom. It is usually served with a small sweet.
- Colombia – Visit a coffee farm or ‘finca’ located in the Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) to witness an agricultural practice unlike any other.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What Are the Two Main Types of Coffee Beans?
Two main types of coffee bean are Arabica and Robusta. The Arabica bean has a softer, finer taste and is produced at higher altitudes compared to the Robusta, which has a more bitter taste and higher caffeine level, is more vigorous and more frequently used for espresso.
Q2. Which Country Produces the Most Coffee?
Once again Brazil leads the world in coffee production, followed by Vietnam and Colombia. It is, of course, these three that make up the bulk of the world’s production although the coffee supply comes from tens of different countries.
Q3. What is Specialty Coffee?
These are high quality coffee beans, determined by standardized quality tests and marked by traceability, thoughtful processing and clear flavor notes. They occupy the best coffees of the market and are a major driving force of the global artisan coffee culture.
Q4. Is the Global Coffee Market Growing?
Yes, world coffee market has grown consistently, spurred by consumption growth in developing countries, specialty coffee phenomenon and growing trend of ready-to-drink coffee. Demand remains on the growth trajectory in mature and new markets.
Q5. How Does Climate Change Affect Coffee Production?
Climate change is a considerable threat to the coffee industry. The current trends towards hotter weather, changing patterns in rainfall, and greater occurrences of pests and diseases are putting many of the areas known for growing coffee under threat. Many producers and industry players are beginning to develop practices and regions to better cope with the change to secure the supply chain in the long term.
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Final Thoughts on the Best Coffees
However, the coffee story is not simply an economic story – it’s human. There is a vast network of farmers, traders, roasters and baristas behind the cup and the lives of those people and their families is infused in the rich flavor of each mouthful. And the fascinated traveler turns a morning drink into a culture.
So, the next time you take a seat on a café chair on a cobblestone street, in a place you barely know, hesitate for a moment before you sip. Take the time to appreciate where your best coffees have been. Consider the journey the beans have made; from a mountain slope farm to a small cup in front of you. You’ll savor it all the more.
For More:
- On our site: We have many articles about this fine elixir on our site for our coffee lovers!
-All photos as credited. Cover photo by Erik Mclean on Pexels.com.
