If you’re a coffee lover, there’s nothing quite like exploring a city that shares your passion for a great brew. This list of must-visit cities offers the ultimate coffee experiences where the beverage is much more than just a quick drink; it’s part of the city’s heartbeat. Venture through streets steeped in tradition and modern innovation alike, each cup promising a unique blend of local flavors and history. Grab your travel mug and take an unforgettable journey through the world’s best coffee cities.
Havana, Cuba
Havana offers a vibrant coffee scene steeped in tradition, where ‘Café Cubano’—a strong and sweet espresso shot—is a daily ritual. The city’s coffee culture is a lively affair, enjoyed in bustling cafes or quaint street corners, often accompanied by lively music and the city’s historic charm. Cuba’s rich coffee heritage adds a unique depth to every cup.
Vienna, Austria
Vienna’s coffee houses are UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage sites, famous for their traditional ‘Wiener Melange’—a delightful cappuccino-like beverage. The grandeur of its coffee houses, like Café Central, offers an atmospheric blend of culture, history, and the finest pastries, inviting you to linger over a newspaper in true Viennese style.
Seattle, USA
As the birthplace of Starbucks, Seattle’s vibrant coffee culture is undeniable. The city thrives with a plethora of artisanal coffee shops and roasters, each crafting unique brews and blends. The local favorite, the ‘Seattle Fog’, is a testament to the city’s love for quality espresso, complemented by its innovative and eco-conscious coffee scene.
Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne is renowned for its laneway coffee culture, with baristas serving up expertly crafted flat whites and long blacks. The city’s coffee shops often double as art spaces, reflecting its creative spirit. Here, coffee is an experience, enjoyed alongside avant-garde cuisine and amidst the hustle of Australia’s unofficial cultural capital.
Rome, Italy
Rome’s coffee culture is characterized by its fast-paced espresso bars, where locals enjoy ‘caffè’ standing up, engaging in swift, animated conversations. The ‘Cappuccino’ and ‘Espresso’ reign supreme, with each sip embodying the city’s rich history and love for the art of coffee making. Rome invites you to indulge in its age-old traditions and vibrant street life.
Taipei, Taiwan
Taipei is a hidden gem for coffee enthusiasts, blending traditional tea culture with a burgeoning coffee scene. The city excels in offering a variety of coffee experiences, from minimalist cafes serving meticulously crafted pour-overs to lively spots offering the unique ‘Bubble Coffee’—a fun twist on the local bubble tea craze. Taipei is a city where east meets west in a cup.
Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon’s coffee culture is as rich as its history, with locals favoring ‘bica’, a strong espresso, often enjoyed with a ‘pastel de nata’ (custard tart) on the side. The city’s cafes range from historic to modern, all offering a cozy ambiance to enjoy Portugal’s coffee traditions amidst its picturesque streets and vibrant, tile-clad buildings.
Paris, France
Parisian coffee culture has evolved, blending traditional charm with third-wave coffee trends. The city offers everything from classic ‘café crèmes’ in historic bistros to artisanal brews in trendy coffee shops. Paris invites you to enjoy a leisurely coffee experience, ideally paired with a freshly baked croissant, amidst the backdrop of its iconic architecture.
Portland, USA
Portland’s coffee scene is known for its pioneering spirit and sustainability, with a strong emphasis on direct trade and organic coffee. The city’s love for innovation is evident in its diverse coffee offerings, from nitro cold brews to expertly crafted lattes, often enjoyed in eco-friendly, art-filled spaces that epitomize Portland’s unique culture.
Lucerne, Switzerland
Lucerne offers a picturesque setting for coffee lovers, with its charming cafes overlooking stunning lake and mountain views. The Swiss are known for their precision, and this extends to their coffee, with a focus on high-quality, sustainably sourced beans. Enjoying a ‘Schümli Pflümli’—a plum-flavored coffee drink—is a must in this serene, scenic city.
London, UK
London’s dynamic coffee scene caters to all, from traditional tea drinkers to coffee aficionados. The city has embraced third-wave coffee, with a multitude of cafes serving flat whites and single-origin brews. London’s coffee culture is about diversity and innovation, inviting you to explore its historic streets with a quality cup in hand.
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You know those coffee grinds you usually toss out after brewing your morning cup? Turns out, they’re like gold for a bunch of cool and unexpected uses. Here’s a fun list of unique and creative ways to give those grinds a second life, from greening up your garden to jazzing up your skincare routine.
Read it Here: 10 Creative Ways To Use Coffee Grinds You Probably Never Thought Of
11 Italian Foods Americans Totally Made Up That You Won’t Find In Italy
As a second generation Italian-American, I grew up eating a lot of Italian food. I’ve also been to Italy eight times and can tell you that all those dishes you know and love from your favorite local Italian food restaurant aren’t actually from Italy. Americans have taken Italian concepts and made them bigger, cheesier, meatier and more convenient. That part shouldn’t really come as surprise, it’s what we do here, right? But seeing some of your favorites in this list may feel like a sucker punch to the gut. In a delicious way of course.
Read it Here: 11 Italian Foods Americans Totally Made Up That You Won’t Find In Italy
12 Foods Containing The Most Pesticides That You Should Buy Organic
It turns out that the crunch of an apple or the sweetness of strawberries might come with an unwanted extra: pesticides. These chemicals, aimed at keeping pests and diseases at bay, tend to linger more on some fruits and veggies than others. Every year, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) lists the “dirtiest,” most heavily sprayed foods. Here’s what to avoid this year or choose their organic counterparts.
Read it Here: 12 Foods Containing The Most Pesticides That You Should Buy Organic
Select images provided by Depositphotos.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
