My husband is a coffee aficionado. We have every type of coffee appliance imaginable: drip, French press, cappuccino maker, Nespresso, Keurig, regular grinder, bur grinder. You name it, we’ve got it. He even roasts his own beans and has turned brewing coffee into a work of art.
So, naturally, when we travel, we are always on the lookout for a good cup of joe. And, let’s face it, traveling can be exhausting. Whether it’s fighting jet lag after an overnight flight, or the third full day of touring the Louvre, sometimes even non-coffee drinkers need a pick-me-up in the form of that caffeinated nectar of the gods.
Ordering coffee outside of the US can sometimes be a bit tricky. Once you get the hang of it though, you’ll enjoy some of the best stuff on earth. It can be a rewarding way to make connections with locals too. So, here’s a brief overview of how to order coffee at a few stops around the world.
Germany
While traveling through Germany and the Czech Republic this past summer, we received a blank stare the first time we ordered “coffee”. The response was “what kind?”. While coffee houses are plentiful and easy to find, if you’re looking for black coffee similar to what we drink, you need to order an Americano. Cappuccinos and lattes are also very common and delicious.
France
The coffee in France is pretty similar to options in the US. The most common drinks are:
Cappuccino – Espresso with steamed milk and lots of frothy foam on top
Latte – Espresso with steamed milk and a small amount of foam on top
French Press Coffee – This is your standard black coffee, but instead of using a drip method, cafes in France commonly use a French Press (hence the name).
If you’re dairy free, most cafes in France will have soymilk readily available. However, other dairy alternatives such as almond, coconut, and cashew milk are not as popular as they are in the US.
Greece
Here, the beans are ground into a very fine powder and brewed in a narrow copper pot. This creates a thicker liquid with a bit of froth at the top. This drink is very strong! It’s meant to be sipped over a nice long break or morning breakfast.
The Greeks are also big on cold coffee. Any coffee drink can be made as a cold beverage but one that is especially popular is the frappe. Much different than an American frappe, Greek frappes are cold whipped coffee. They are prepared in a special blender and come in a tall glass with a thick layer of froth on the top. Delicious!
Coconut milk can be used as a dairy alternative. This works really well in frappes but not as well in hot drinks such as lattes and cappuccinos. Even if you’re a big fan of dairy, we suggest giving a coconut milk frappe a try — you just might love it!
Australia
Australia does not have regular drip coffee that we are used to in North America. If you try to simply order “a coffee”, the barista will look at you like you have three heads — trust us on this! But the good news is if you know what to order you’ll probably get the best cup of coffee you’ve ever had.
Here are the basics:
Flat White – Similar to a latte but with less foam. This is a staple drink in Australia.
Short Black – Straight espresso. Hello, caffeine!
Long Black – This is akin to an Americano. Simply espresso and hot water.
Mac (short for macchiato) – Espresso and a little bit of cold milk.
They also have the standard cappuccino, mocha, and latte.
India
For ordering coffee in India, our best advice to you is good luck! Coffee in India is not all that common, although it is getting more and more common in the tourist areas and big cities such as Bombay and New Delhi. When you order coffee, more times than not you’ll get a stale tasting cup of drip coffee.
In lieu of coffee, Indians prefer chai, a special black tea with milk and sugar. The tea has caffeine in it and is quite delicious.
If you are in a big city or you stumble on one of the newer coffee shops that have popped up in recent years, then you may be able to get a nice cup of coffee. But when in India, we suggest giving Indian chai a try instead.
If you’re curious about how to order coffee – or anything else – on your dream vacation, there’s no better person to ask than your travel agent. When you hire a travel agent we can fill you in on specific travel tips like these because, well, we’ve been there. We know and understand the place you want to visit and have the inside scoop on where to stay, where to play, and what to eat.
Contact us today and let’s get you on your way to discovering your next cup of java in a new destination.
Recent Comments