Coffee certainly has enjoyed sustained success as the next big beverage for quite some time now. Move over, tea! You're only for Brits and people who need to calm down before going to bed on a chilly winter's evening. But a love for coffee isn't as simple as walking up to the counter at Starbucks and ordering whatever sounds the most Italian. No, it takes a little more work than that.
No one can quite pinpoint the latest coffee boom, only comment on the far-flung places in the rural United States where it's now possible to get an organic cup of coffee (thanks, Newman's Organic and McDonalds). A large number of university cafeterias across the country fought for their right to fair-trade coffee back in the 1990s, so you'd think that this coffee trend, especially with foodies, would be a little over by now.
A bit of history on coffee: it's not something that every country can make, which is why a lot of countries were a little late to the game, or had some seriously sub-par beans for quite some time. And a love for coffee doesn't mean that you even have tried that many varieties. From Columbia to Jamaica, Kenya to Java, a number of locations all develop their own special types of beans, which can only grow in those climates.
Many coffee drinkers think that getting serious means switching to espresso, which definitely enjoyed a surge in popularity thanks to the whole Starbucks movement. The thing with espresso, though, is that it's just a stronger version of regular coffee, which is something that a lot of people don't quite realize. In fact, espresso machines didn't even exist until 1901. But those with a love for coffee who are looking for a stronger drink, remember this when you're ordering your espresso: the really, really good kind should be able to have some serious hang-time when you toss in that spoon of sugar. Otherwise, you might as well just drink regular coffee.
Learning to order coffee is one of the most important skills you can have as a socializing grown-up, and if you're going to be traveling the world and going out with people, there's no better time to learn than right now. If everyone else is ordering drinks with actual names, and not asking for "a shot" of something, then you need to not order a single or even double espresso. It will be much smaller than their drinks, and you will feel awkward. If bitter things aren't really your taste, then go for anything with mocha or leche, as you'll get chocolate and milk to cut the taste of the coffee.
But part of a love for coffee is appreciating all of the fun and fancy versions of drinks that have been developed, and trying them all out. Depending on where you are in the world, or the style of coffee you're sampling, a number of different things are used for flavor. Whether it's enjoying the taste of chocolate in a mocha or drizzling some sweet caramel-like sauce down in Argentina right into the coffee, it doesn't have to be a bitter-tasting drink experience.
One of the best parts about drinking coffee, especially socially, is the snacks! From Holland to Argentina, you can expect at least a couple of cookies and sometimes even a glass of orange juice, so there's always something to pick at while you're enjoying your coffee. It's also nice, if you haven't eaten, to put something in your stomach that isn't just a cup of caffeine.
But the real reason for learning to drink coffee, even before developing a love for coffee, is to be able to socialize to your utmost potential in countries around the world where it's an important part of being communal. So remember what words mean milk and what words mean espresso, and get out there and start tasting! - 30414
No one can quite pinpoint the latest coffee boom, only comment on the far-flung places in the rural United States where it's now possible to get an organic cup of coffee (thanks, Newman's Organic and McDonalds). A large number of university cafeterias across the country fought for their right to fair-trade coffee back in the 1990s, so you'd think that this coffee trend, especially with foodies, would be a little over by now.
A bit of history on coffee: it's not something that every country can make, which is why a lot of countries were a little late to the game, or had some seriously sub-par beans for quite some time. And a love for coffee doesn't mean that you even have tried that many varieties. From Columbia to Jamaica, Kenya to Java, a number of locations all develop their own special types of beans, which can only grow in those climates.
Many coffee drinkers think that getting serious means switching to espresso, which definitely enjoyed a surge in popularity thanks to the whole Starbucks movement. The thing with espresso, though, is that it's just a stronger version of regular coffee, which is something that a lot of people don't quite realize. In fact, espresso machines didn't even exist until 1901. But those with a love for coffee who are looking for a stronger drink, remember this when you're ordering your espresso: the really, really good kind should be able to have some serious hang-time when you toss in that spoon of sugar. Otherwise, you might as well just drink regular coffee.
Learning to order coffee is one of the most important skills you can have as a socializing grown-up, and if you're going to be traveling the world and going out with people, there's no better time to learn than right now. If everyone else is ordering drinks with actual names, and not asking for "a shot" of something, then you need to not order a single or even double espresso. It will be much smaller than their drinks, and you will feel awkward. If bitter things aren't really your taste, then go for anything with mocha or leche, as you'll get chocolate and milk to cut the taste of the coffee.
But part of a love for coffee is appreciating all of the fun and fancy versions of drinks that have been developed, and trying them all out. Depending on where you are in the world, or the style of coffee you're sampling, a number of different things are used for flavor. Whether it's enjoying the taste of chocolate in a mocha or drizzling some sweet caramel-like sauce down in Argentina right into the coffee, it doesn't have to be a bitter-tasting drink experience.
One of the best parts about drinking coffee, especially socially, is the snacks! From Holland to Argentina, you can expect at least a couple of cookies and sometimes even a glass of orange juice, so there's always something to pick at while you're enjoying your coffee. It's also nice, if you haven't eaten, to put something in your stomach that isn't just a cup of caffeine.
But the real reason for learning to drink coffee, even before developing a love for coffee, is to be able to socialize to your utmost potential in countries around the world where it's an important part of being communal. So remember what words mean milk and what words mean espresso, and get out there and start tasting! - 30414
About the Author:
When Damian Papworth hosts a major party he pulls out the 12 cup coffee maker. For all other mornings though one cup coffee makers are fine
