5 Best Destinations in Europe for an Amazing European Coffee Culture Experience
There are many things European cities are known for, and coffee is one of them. Most European destinations enjoy a long history and relationship with the beverage. Local cultures and conditions influenced coffee production techniques, so you can expect to find different beverage approaches throughout the continent. The experience of enjoying the exquisite flavors of this caffeinated beverage is heavenly. If you are someone motivated by this divine drink, following excellent coffee, find the list below that identifies the best destinations in Europe for coffee.
1. Prague
We begin our list of best Destinations in Europe for Coffee with the Czech Republic capital, Prague, a city with a very long coffee history. This caffeinated beverage, which was once the drink of the affluent, was nationalized during the Czech Republic’s socialist regime, resulting in a quality decline. However, over the years, the Czech gained personal access to the drink and got creative with it. Coffee in Prague has always been a communal affair, something that is carried on to date. The city lacks the concept of takeaways as the norm is to gather over coffee, enjoy a lovely side snack, and socialize with your friends and family. Therefore, it would not be wrong to say that Prague views coffee as an essential element of its cultural fabric.
Although they are not big on peculiar coffee modifications yet, they have devised their ways to brew and craft distinct coffees, which are a must-try for anyone in the city. The thing that ensures this is that the baristas in cafes see their jobs as long-term employment, rather than as some summer internship, which means that they are more dedicated to their art and craft. While you are in town, remember to check in Cacao, Bresto, Café Ebel, and Café Café, which are some of the most popular coffee spots in the city.
2. Barcelona
Barcelona is another city that falls on our list of one of the best destinations in Europe for coffee. Barcelonan coffee is evolving, and it is evolving for the betterment. Although the city has enjoyed a very long coffee history, with the beverage being an integral part of people’s social lives, it is safe to say that quality was not as good as people would want. Owing to the rationalization of commodities during the Spanish war, bad coffee was often masked with loads of sugar, which carried on well after the war ended. However, thanks to the third-wave coffee culture, this has changed. Not only have laboratories like Nomad Coffee Productions sprung up in the city to experiment with coffee, but coffee baristas have also found a deep love for their craft and take it very seriously. They love to share their knowledge of the beverage, its roots, and their skills, providing excellent company if you are on your own.
Several international chains, like Starbucks, and local specialty coffee shops, like SlowMov and Onna Café, have contributed to change the coffee landscape. Therefore, people can now enjoy both excellent coffee and the Barcelonan coffee culture, which is based on snacking and socializing over the beverage with friends and family. Furthermore, modern cafes in the city are chic, fashionable, and welcoming, providing an ambiance that makes people want to return.
3. Helsinki
A list of the best European cities for coffee lovers cannot be complete without mentioning Helsinki, the capital of Finland, the country that consumes the most coffee worldwide. Finnish coffee culture is unique, which might be because coffee is a part of people’s lifestyles. It is not something they would especially meet over with friends. It is something as intrinsic as the food they eat and the water they drink. If you happen to visit a Finnish household, you will be greeted and treated with successive cups of coffee. And declining coffee is deemed as rude! Since it is such an integral part of the Finnish culture, the locals did not bother a lot with the coffee artisan culture that is dominating the markets today.
Unlike most Americas and other European destinations, you will find that the coffee blend favored in this part of the world is much softer. Today, however, you can find a few specialty coffee shops, but they fail to match the local companies’ popularity. If you are in Helsinki and want to enjoy coffee like the locals, you should head to Cafetoria Café Regatta and El Fant Coffee & Wine, some of the best coffee cafes in town.
4. Istanbul
Coffee was first brought to Istanbul back in the 16th century, making the familiarity of the Turkish with the beverage a very old tale. Introduced to the royalty from Yemen, the beverage’s delicious aroma soon escaped the high palaces and in no time, coffee became a favorite of the locals. In the mid-16th century, the city saw its first coffee shop, which is also the world’s first public destination offering coffee. Therefore, if one says that the intermingling of coffee with social gatherings beyond one’s house has Turkish origins, one would not be wrong.
Over the years, coffee has become an essential in the Istanbulite culture, with the art of roasting and brewing the beverage becoming a skill passed on to generations. Istanbulites mastered the production of high-quality coffee blends. The Turkish people traditionally enjoy a strong blend of coffee that can jolt you awake for your day and give you the burst of energy you need to live your day. Although the artisan and specialty coffee culture are foreign to Turkey, it is gaining hold in Istanbul. Today, you can find several coffee houses specific to third-wave coffee culture, like Mocha Arabica Specialty Coffee and Coffee Brew Lab. If you are into more traditional places, you can visit Ethem Tezçakar Kahveci and Sark Kahvesi, where you can get a flavor of authentic Turkey.
5. Vienna
The Viennese discovered coffee by accident, but they did not continue treating it like that for long. Coffee was soon experimented with, with people trying different techniques to extract a beverage of the beans. Over the years, the city seemed to develop an upper hand in coffee matters. The beverage’s status was elevated to an art form and its consumption to a lifestyle. The coffee here is fancier than what might expect elsewhere and regularly features admissions of cinnamon, chocolate sprinkles, cocoa powder, etc.
Vienna bustles with active coffee shops that share a distinct culture. Since the culture of coffee and coffee houses is so integrated and rampant in the Viennese society, the locals have a sense of attachment and loyalty with their favorite cafés. And the café managements recognize the frequent visitors and perform informal, warm gestures, like providing special treatment. A few of the city’s best coffee spots include Café Hawelka Café Weimar and Café Central.
Want to add a coffee culture experience to your Europe vacation?
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