Coffee Drinks – 56 Different Types of Coffee Drink From Around The World

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The differences in coffee drinks can be the way the coffee is brewed, the type of coffee maker used, the ingredients, or the serving method. For example, you can have a cold coffee with milk, or a hot coffee without milk. There is a huge range of coffee drinks you can brew. Of course, all types of coffee beverages are made with coffee beans, but these can be included in different ratios for different strengths. Here are the different types of coffee drinks explained.

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What are the Hot Coffee Types?

Hot coffees are the most popular coffee drinks. The most efficient way of brewing coffee is with hot water, so most coffee is hot by default. Serving temperature affects our ability to perceive certain flavours and aromas, so hot brewed coffee will have a more intense smell and taste than cold coffee. Here are the types of hot coffee and names of coffee drinks you’re most likely to come across.

1. Black Coffee

Black coffee is any combination of water and coffee, served without any milk or creamer. The addition of these products changes the aroma and colour of the coffee, turning it lighter-brown or white.

There are various coffee maker types that make certain types of coffee drinks including drip coffee, French press, pour over or espresso machines. Also, there are different ways to serve it, and each of them influences the taste, calories, and nutritional value in different ways.

2. Espresso

Espresso is a famous type of coffee from Italy. An espresso machine works by forcing high-pressure steam through ground coffee beans to produce espresso. The result is a very concentrated coffee with a strong taste, which is used as the base of many other coffee types including cappuccino, macchiato, and Americano.

A single 1 oz serving of espresso contains 3 calories, 100 mg fat, 0 mg protein, 0.6 mg calcium, 34 mg potassium, 23.7 mg magnesium, and 4.1 mg sodium.

3. Americano

An Americano is a shot of espresso served in a large cup and topped with hot water. The result is a less intense coffee, similar to drip coffee. It is believed that the name comes from the U.S. soldiers in Italy during the 2nd World War, who used water to ration the scarce amounts of espresso available at the time.

An 8 oz Americano coffee contains 3 calories, 100 mg fat, 0 mg protein, 0.6 mg calcium, 34 mg potassium, 23.7 mg magnesium, and 4.1 mg sodium.

Variations:

4. Long Black

A long black is a shot of espresso added to hot water. It is essentially the same as the Americano, but the order in which you add the espresso and water is reversed.

An 8 oz Americano contains 3 calories, 100 mg fat, 0 mg protein, 0.6 mg calcium, 34 mg potassium, 23.7 mg magnesium, and 4.1 mg sodium.

Here’s a more detailed article on what a long black is: https://www.homegrounds.co/uk/what-is-long-black-coffee/

5. Latte

Latte is made with one part espresso, two parts steamed milk, and a small layer of milk foam. It is one of the most popular types of espresso drinks and has a milkier taste than a cappuccino due to the higher ratio of milk.

An 8 oz cafe latte contains 103 calories, 4000 mg fat, 6600 mg protein, 240 mg calcium, 326.4 mg potassium, 55.2 mg magnesium, and 98.4 mg sodium.

Other latte recipes:

6. Cappuccino

Cappuccino is made with one part espresso, one part steamed milk and one part milk foam. It is often topped with a sprinkle of powdered chocolate or cinnamon. It’s the most popular type of coffee for breakfast in Italy but is consumed at all times of the day in other parts of the world.

An 8 oz cappuccino contains 65 calories, 2500 mg fat, 4000 mg protein, 148.8 mg calcium, 216 mg potassium, 48 mg magnesium, and 64.8 mg sodium.

Related:

7. Flat White

A flat white is made with a double shot of espresso, steamed milk, and no milk foam. The espresso flavour still dominates the aroma, while the milk serves as a supporting taste.

An 8 oz flat white contains 103 calories, 4000 mg fat, 6600 mg protein, 240 mg calcium, 326.4 mg potassium, 55.2 mg magnesium, and 98.4 mg sodium.

Related: What is a flat white?

8. Macchiato

A macchiato is made with a shot of espresso topped with a small amount of milk or milk foam. Dispensing on where you are in the world, the macchiato might be prepared differently. It has a taste very similar to espresso but not quite as strong due to the addition of milk.

A 1 oz macchiato contains 7 calories, 200 mg fat, 300 mg protein, 12 mg calcium, 36.9 mg potassium, 17.1 mg magnesium, and 7.2 mg sodium. Here’s where you can learn how to make a macchiato.

9. Latte Macchiato

The slightly more indulgent version of the above, a latte macchiato is a cup of steamed milk with a shot of espresso poured over the top. This creates a bold taste of espresso with the first sip, which becomes creamier as you drink. The latte macchiato differs from the latte because it is poured in a different order.

An 8 oz latte macchiato contains 103 calories, 4000 mg fat, 6600 mg protein, 240 mg calcium, 326.4 mg potassium, 55.2 mg magnesium, and 98.4 mg sodium.

10. Cafe au Lait

The contents and ratio of cafe au lait vary from country to country. In France, where the drink originated, it’s a shot of espresso topped with warm milk. In the United States, it often refers to concentrated drip coffee topped with steamed milk.

An 8 oz cafe au lait made with 4 oz drip coffee and 4 oz steamed milk contains 76 calories, 4000 mg fat, 4000 mg protein, 219 mg potassium, and 55 mg sodium.

11. Cortado

A cortado coffee is made with one part espresso, one part steamed milk, and no foam. It’s a popular drink in Spain, Portugal, and Latin America. In the United States, it is sometimes known as a Gibraltar and is served in a glass cup with a metal handle.

A 4 oz cortado contains 34 calories, 1200 mg fat, 2200 mg protein, 133 mg potassium, and 36 mg sodium.

12. Mocha Latte

A mocha latte will vary greatly depending on the cafe that you order it from. It usually contains espresso, chocolate or cocoa, steamed milk, and milk foam, but can also include whipped cream. It still has a strong taste of coffee, with a sweet taste of chocolate.

A tall (12 oz) mocha latte from Starbucks contains 290 calories, 1300 mg fat, 1100 mg protein, and 120 mg sodium.

Related: What is mocha coffee?

13. Ristretto

Ristretto is an espresso shot made like regular espresso but with half the amount of water. The final product is thus a more concentrated shot of espresso with a slightly different taste.

A single serving of ristretto contains 3 calories, 100 mg fat, 0 mg protein, 0.6 mg calcium, 34 mg potassium, 23.7 mg magnesium, and 4.1 mg sodium.

Related: What is ristretto?

14. Lungo

Lungo is a shot of espresso that is pulled for a longer amount of time. The name comes from the Italian word “lungo” which means long, ie a long espresso. A lungo has more water and as a result is more diluted compared to a regular espresso.

A lungo is extracted for one minute and the total extraction is 2oz. As the shot is pulled for longer, the extraction is different compared to espresso. As a result, a lungo can taste somewhat bitter, and will have less crema compared to a regular shot of espresso.

A 2oz lungo contains 2.5 calories, 0mg fat, 2mg calcium, 17mg potassium, and 3.8mg sodium.

Related: What is a lungo?

15. Turkish Coffee

Turkish coffee is prepared using very fine coffee grounds boiled with water and sugar in a cezve coffee maker. This is a traditional way of drinking coffee throughout the Middle East and some parts of Europe. Turkish coffee has a very strong and sweet taste.

A 2 oz serve of Turkish coffee prepared with 1 teaspoon of sugar contains 16 calories, 0 mg fat, 100 mg protein, 1.2 mg calcium, 28.5 mg potassium, and 1.2 mg sodium.

16. Red Eye

A red eye coffee is made by combining a shot of espresso with brewed coffee, normally from a drip coffee machine. It has a strong coffee taste and is served without milk. It has a few variations including dripped eye coffee, black eye coffee, and lazy eye coffee.

An 8 oz red eye espresso coffee contains approximately 5 calories.

17. Doppio

A doppio espresso is simply a double shot of espresso. It has exactly the same taste as espresso, it’s just a larger portion size.

A 2 oz doppio contains 5.4 calories, 100 mg fat, 70 mg protein, 1.2 mg calcium, 69 mg potassium, 48 mg magnesium, and 8.2 mg sodium.

18. Marocchino

A marocchino is another Italian coffee drink. It starts with a shot of espresso, then a layer of cocoa powder on top, a layer of milk froth and finally topped with a layer of sprinkled cocoa powder. It can be traced back to some time after World War II in Italy and was the predecessor to the mocha – the modern favourite that also combines coffee and chocolate.

19. Espressino

The espressino is very similar to the marocchino, just layered differently. It starts with a layer of cocoa powder, then espresso and frothed milk are layered on top. Finally, it’s finished off with another dusting of cocoa powder.

20. Bicerin

If you enjoy the marocchino or espressino, you will likely enjoy the bicerin coffee drink. Bicerin is another Italian coffee based beverage made with coffee, chocolate and cream. It starts with a shot of espresso, followed by hot chocolate and topped off with a layer of whipped cream.

21. Caffe Breve

A caffe breve is one part espresso topped with steamed half and half. A breve coffee or latte uses the same ratio of milk to coffee, but the use of half and half gives the breve a much sweeter taste.

An 8 oz caffe breve contains 228 calories, 1900 mg fat, 6000 mg protein, 276 mg potassium, and 116 mg sodium.

22. Piccolo Latte

A piccolo latte is a ristretto shot, topped with twice the amount of steamed milk. The use of the ristretto gives it a stronger coffee taste than a latte.

A single piccolo latte contains around 45 calories when prepared with whole milk, or 25 calories when prepared with skim milk.

23. Espresso Con Panna

Espresso con panna is a single or double espresso, topped with whipped cream. It is popular and Italy and literally translates as coffee with cream. In the UK and France, espresso con panna goes by a different name – Café Viennois or Viennese coffee.

We’ve made a simple espresso con panna recipe for you to try yourself.

24. Irish Coffee

Irish coffee is a combination of strong brewed coffee, whiskey, brown sugar, and cream. The name can also refer to any coffee with alcohol added.

The exact nutritional value will depend on the recipe, but an average serving of Irish coffee contains 211 calories, 5800 mg fat, 600 mg protein, 14 mg calcium, 93.6 mg potassium, 4.8 mg magnesium, and 7.2 mg sodium.

25. Caffè Corretto

Caffè corretto is a popular Italian coffee drink, made by adding a splash of grappa to a shot of espresso. Corretto translates as “corrected”, implying that by adding some alcohol to the espresso, the drink has now been fixed. This is because in the 1930s when this coffee drink was first invented, espresso was extremely bitter and adding some alcohol balanced out the flavour.

26. Carajillo Coffee

If you like your coffee drinks with alcohol, then the Carajillo coffee may well be one you enjoy. It’s a Mexican coffee made by combining equal parts espresso and Licor 43, a sweet Spanish liqueur. Simply add some ice to a glass or tumbler, pour in the espresso and Licor 43 and top with some whipped cream and even some chocolate covered coffee beans to make this delectable after-dinner drink.

Related: Carajillo coffee recipe

27. Cuban Espresso

Cuban espresso sometimes known as Café Cubano is an espresso drink from Cuba that is made using dark roasted coffee combined with a generous layer of sugary foam. Because of the bitterness of the roast, the addition of a sweetener is essential, in order to balance out the bitter taste of the coffee.

Check out our guide to learn how to make Cuban coffee.

28. Mirra

Popular in a number of provinces in Turkey, including Adana, Urfa, Mardin and Hatay, mirra is a very bitter coffee drink, made with very finely ground beans. It is sometimes called Arabic coffee, owing to the origin of it’s name mirra – derived from the Arabic word “mur” – which means bitter. Mirra is quite similar to regular Turkish coffee and is often made with cardamom to add flavour. Mirra is also drank in Lebanon and Syria.

29. Qishr Coffee

Qishr coffee is a sweet ginger coffee beverage that is popular in Yemen. It is made by brewing dried coffee cherries with hot water, then adding ginger, cinnamon, cloves and sugar.

An 8oz serving of Qishr coffee contains 54 calories, 0.06g of protein, 21.6g of calcium, 4.9g of sodium and 15g of potassium.

What are the Cold Coffee Types?

Cold coffee types are coffees that are either served cold or prepared using cold water. Cold coffee is a great way to enjoy the coffee flavour in hot weather, or to create a drink that is more like a dessert. Brewing coffee with cold water will help to create a different flavour profile. Here are the cold coffee types explained.

30. Iced Coffee

Iced coffee is any coffee that is prepared as a hot coffee, then added to ice to cool it. Iced coffee is usually served with cold milk and sugar for a refreshing, dessert-like drink. In cafes, it might include flavoured syrup or a whipped cream topping. Brewing coffee directly over ice is also known as Japanese-style iced coffee.

The nutritional content of your iced coffee will depend on the type of coffee that you use, the amount of milk and sweetener added, and any extra toppings. A tall (12 oz) iced coffee from Starbucks prepared with milk and sugar syrup contains 80 calories, 1000 mg fat, 2000 mg protein, and 30 mg sodium.

31. Iced Latte

An iced latte is a shot of espresso poured over ice, then topped with cold milk. Sweetener is often added, and the milk may be frothed to emulate the texture of a hot latte. Check Home Grounds’ easy iced latte recipe if you want to learn how to make it at home.

An 8 oz iced latte prepared without sweetener contains 65 calories, 2420 mg fat, 4180 mg protein, 158 mg calcium, 245 mg potassium, 48 mg magnesium, and 55.2 mg sodium.

More iced latte recipes:

32. Iced Cappuccino

An iced cappuccino is a shot of espresso added to ice and cold milk. It is topped with a layer of frothed cold milk. To add an extra decadent touch, add a dash of almond or vanilla extract, then sprinkle with a little cinnamon

A 16oz iced cappuccino has 202 calories, 9.6g fat, 12g protein, 88.1mg of calcium and 44mg of sodium.

33. Cold Brew

Cold brew is coffee that is brewed by steeping coffee grounds in cold water for an extended period of time. There is a style of cold brew that uses a drip method instead of steeping, known as Kyoto coffee. Cold brew has a smoother and sweeter taste than hot brewed coffee, with less acidity and bitterness.

An 8 oz serve of cold brew coffee contains 2.5 calories, 100 mg fat, 300 mg protein, 5 mg calcium, 116 mg potassium, and 4.7 mg sodium.

You can also try making these cold brew recipes.

34. Nitro Cold Brew

Nitro cold brew coffee is made by infusing cold brew coffee with nitrogen. This creates a foamy, creamy coffee with a mild, sweet taste.

An 8 oz serve of nitro cold brew contains 2.5 calories, 100 mg fat, 300 mg protein, 5 mg calcium, 116 mg potassium, and 4.7 mg sodium.

35. Frappe

A traditional Greek Frappe is made by shaking instant coffee granules with water to produce a foamy texture, then adding to ice along with cold milk and sugar. Some preparations blend the coffee and ice to create a texture like a slushie, and some include a whipped cream topping.

A frappe prepared with milk and sugar (but without whipped cream) contains approximately 15 calories.

Note: Here’s where you can learn more about what a frappe is and how you can make it at home.

36. Frappuccino

The Frappuccino is a drink popularised by Starbucks. It is made of blended espresso, milk, crushed ice, whipped cream, and any syrup or sauce of choice. Like the traditional Greek coffee mentioned above, this drink is also called frappe. Here’s a classic and easy frappuccino recipe.

This drink can come in different flavours. It can also be a delicious mix of coffee and dessert. If you want to try a more decadent frappe, here are some really cool recipes:

37. Espresso Tonic

An espresso tonic is made by adding a double shot of espresso to a glass of ice and topping it with tonic water and a squeeze of lime juice. It creates a refreshing drink with some bitterness that is balanced by the acidity of the lime.

An 8 oz espresso tonic contains 258 calories, 100 mg fat, 0 mg protein, and 26.6 mg sodium.

38. Affogato

An affogato is made by adding a scoop of gelato to a shot of hot espresso. It’s usually served as a dessert rather than a drink and can use any flavour of gelato.

An affogato contains 240 calories, 1500 mg fat, 4200 mg protein, 104 mg calcium, 166 mg potassium, and 118 mg sodium.

What are the Unusual Coffee Types?

The aforementioned coffees are most popular, but they are mainly coffee shop drinks originating from the United States and Italy. However, there are various other cultures that brew coffee styles in different ways. You’ll also find some unique types of coffee beans that you might not have tried.

39. Vietnamese Coffee

Vietnamese coffee is coffee prepared using a small Vietnamese metal filter known as a phin. It can be served hot or cold and is often mixed with condensed milk. It has a strong taste similar to espresso.

A cup of Vietnamese coffee prepared with sweetened condensed milk contains 157 calories, 4300 mg fat, 4000 mg protein, 143 mg calcium, 236 mg potassium, and 65 mg sodium.

Vietnamese coffee shares a lot of similarities with the Kopi Sanger, another Asian coffee drink made with condensed milk that is popular in Indonesia.

40. Bulletproof Coffee

Bulletproof coffee is a mix of brewed coffee, coconut oil, and unsalted butter. It is very popular with people who are on a high-fat, low-carb diet and can serve as a substitute for breakfast.

A cup of bulletproof coffee prepared with 2 tablespoons butter and 1 tablespoon coconut oil contains 327 calories, 4700 mg fat, 500 mg protein, 12 mg calcium, 123 mg potassium, and 187 mg sodium.

Interested in another health-boosted drink? Try this maca coffee recipe!

41. Cascara Coffee

Cascara coffee is coffee that is prepared by brewing coffee cherry leaves instead of coffee beans. It has a flavour that is closer to tea than coffee.

A 5 oz cup of cascara coffee contains approximately 10 calories when served without sugar or creamer.

16 Unique and Exotic Coffee Drinks That Will Take You Around the World

Starting from the Ethiopian highlands, the coffee bean has since spread worldwide.

In doing so, many different cultures have found inspiration in the humble bean to develop their own unique beverages.

From the addition of egg yolks in Vietnam to gelato in Italy to spicy peppercorns in Senegal, here are 16 ways to serve coffee around the world, complete with step-by-step recipes so you can host your own multi-cultural tasting party.

The Origins Of Coffee…

Though grown and savoured worldwide today, coffee can trace its origins to the intuition of a single goat-herder on the Ethiopian plateau.

The herder noticed his goats became particularly energetic after eating certain berries. He reported his observation to a local monastery and from these humble beginnings emerged the global industry we know today.

By the 15th century coffee was being grown and traded commercially on the Arabian Peninsula.

Europeans joined the caffeine train in the 17th century and coffee houses quickly became gathering places for artists and intellectuals.

In 1723, a naval officer brought a coffee plant seedling on a perilous journey across the Atlantic Ocean to the Island of Martinique.

The seedling thrived, fostering a booming coffee industry on the island, and served as the parent for the coffee trees throughout modern day South and Central America and the Caribbean.

Through colonisation, trade, and religious missions, coffee seeds have been transported around the world where many flourished and others perished.

Today, coffee is the second most sought commodity in the world after crude oil.

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42. Kaffeost (Sweden)

Kaffeost might be a hard one wrap your head around. The name translates to “coffee cheese (3)”, which is an apt description of the beverage. It involves hot coffee poured over cubed cheese.

The cheese itself is a Finnish product called “Leipäjuusto” or bread cheese in Finland and Finnish squeaky cheese (4) in America.

In Finland, the bread cheese is served sliced as a side with coffee, but in Northern Sweden, they prefer it directly in the coffee. The cheese cubes soften and absorb the coffee, but they don’t melt.

43. Türk Kahvesi (Turkey)

Turkish coffee is well-known around the globe, though is still rarely offered in Western coffee shops.

It consists of a unique preparation method more than a recipe.

The most important aspects of Turkish coffee are that the sugar is added before boiling, rather than to the finished cup, and the extremely finely ground beans are not strained out at the end of the process.

The boiling process employed in Turkish coffee leaves a thick froth on the surface which is a hallmark of the style. Cream or milk are never added and the coffee is never stirred so as not to disturb the foam.

Greek coffee is very similar to Turkish coffee, which you can read about here.

44. The Einspänner (Austria)

Austrians take coffee very seriously (5), particularly in the capital city of Vienna where coffee houses abound.

In fact, the “Viennese Coffee House Culture” received a UNESCO (6) designation as “Intangible Cultural Heritage” in 2011.

The Einspänner (7) is a single or double espresso topped with whipped cream.

The name comes from the German word for a single-horse carriage which can be driven with only one hand, leaving the other free for coffee consumption.

The whipped cream topping serves as an insulating layer so carriage drivers have extra time to enjoy their espresso before it cools.

Related: Not the Austrian coffee drink you are looking for? Why not try this instead: Viennese Coffee Recipe: The Famous Austrian Drink

45. Ca Phe Trung (Vietnam)

Ca phe trung is also known as Vietnamese egg coffee and, like kaffeost, it tastes much better than it sounds.

It is typically made from egg yolks, sugar, condensed milk and robusta coffee.

Some tasters have described it as essentially a “Cadbury Creme Egg with a hint of mocha”.

Though the origins of the beverage (8) are cloudy, many suggest it arose when dairy products were scarce in the country.

Coffee drinkers desperate for a creamy cup of java were forced to get creative and use whipped egg yolks instead.

46. Scandinavian Egg Coffee (Sweden/Norway)

Scandinavian egg coffee is a brewing method developed in Sweden and Norway and brought to parts of the American Midwest.

Coffee grounds are mixed with raw egg before being added to boiling water.

The theory is that the egg whites break down in boiling water and release proteins that bind to any bitter impurities in the coffee.

The resulting coffee is a beautiful golden-amber colour with a clean, silky body and super mellow flavour. The strategy was borne of necessity, at a time when good coffee was not readily available, so it is less common these days.

47. Cafezinho (Brazil)

Cafezinho translates to “little coffee” and is synonymous with hospitality in Brazil.

Being offered a cafezinho is like an invitation to sit down and relax, let your worries slip away, and enjoy some conversation and good company.

Compared with a regular drip coffee, cafezinho (9) is extremely thick and strong. It is even more concentrated than espresso and is served super sweet without any milk or cream.

Its unique characteristics come from the use of a special cloth flannel filter for brewing.

48. Qahwa (Saudi Arabia)

Qahwa is simply the Arabic word for “coffee”, but it is served in a unique fashion (10) in Saudi Arabia.

Though the brewing method is similar to Turkish coffee, they use green coffee beans and make a very weak brew. Along with cardamom, a few other seasonings are regularly added including saffron, rose water, cinnamon and cloves.

Traditionally (11), the coffee is served by the youngest person at the gathering and it is considered a sign of respect to be served first. It is almost always served with dates or another sweet.

49. Cafe de Olla (Mexico)

Cafe de Olla (12) translates as “Pot Coffee” a name which comes from the fact that it is brewed in a clay pot. It is a comforting beverage most often found in rural areas with cold climates.

The distinct flavour of the drink comes from cinnamon and piloncillo, a traditional Mexican sugar.

Other potential additives include clove, allspice, black peppercorns, and orange peel. Rarely is it served with any milk or cream.

50. Pharisäer Kaffee (Germany)

Pharisäer kaffee is a German coffee infused with rum and topped with whipped cream.

The story goes that it was invented because of a local pastor that was very strict when it came to alcohol.

Parishioners spiked their coffee with rum and topped it with whipped cream to keep the rum aroma from wafting through the air to the pastor.

You aren’t supposed to stir Pharisäer coffee, but rather sip it through the whipped cream.

51. Yuanyang (Hong Kong)

Yuanyang (14) is a popular drink in Hong Kong made from a mixture of coffee and Hong Kong-style milk tea.

The name refers to mandarin ducks (15) which appear in pairs and the male and female ducks are very different in appearance.

In the same way, coffee and tea are very different, but their combination is lovely.

The most popular teas to use are the highly caffeinated Assam and Ceylon which, when paired with coffee, make for a drink with a serious jolt.

52. Cafe Touba (Senegal)

Café Touba is a Senegalese drink flavoured with grains of selim (also known as Guinea pepper).

Unlike many other spiced coffees on this list, in Cafe Touba, the dried spices are ground together with the coffee into a powder which is then prepared as regular drip coffee.

It is considered an elixir as the peppers are though to fight depression, have anti-allergenic properties and aid digestion.

Cafe Touba is named for the holy city of Touba, Senegal and its consumption is increasing, both in Senegal and neighbouring countries.

It is now so popular that Nestlé launched a similar competing product called Nescafé Ginger & Spice.

53. Cafe Lagrima (Argentina)

Lagrima is the Spanish word for tear and it is descriptive of this mild drink. It features an espresso cup filled with warm milk and only a small ‘teardrops’ worth of coffee.

Argentina (16), and the capital Buenos Aires in particular, has a thriving coffee culture though the coffee itself is rarely top notch.

Most often, beans are low quality Brazilian imports that have been “sugar roasted”, a technique in which green beans are roasted together with sugar.

This may explain the popularity of a beverage with such a low quantity of actual coffee.

54. Espresso Romano (Italy)

An Espresso Romano is achieved by sliding a lemon slice around the edge of the cup and serving it with a peel of lemon zest on the side.

The combination of lemon and espresso is not unusual as the sourness of the lemon is thought to enhance the sweetness of the espresso.

Some suggest (20) this drink emerged during World War II when water was scarce and the lemon juice was used for sanitation in place of washing.

Other sources indicate that Italians have long regarded the combination of lemon and espresso as a remedy for headaches.

55. Kopi Joss (Indonesia)

Kopi Joss has become very well known around the world and quite a tourist thing to do in Indonesia (even though watching a lump of burning coal drop into a coffee looks like the drink of the devil).

The story goes that Kopi Joss was invented in the 1960s in the Indonesian city of Yogyakara by a coffee stall vendor called Mr. Man (seriously, Mr. Man. Mr. Man the coffee man…).

Apparently he had a tummy ache and as he made himself a cup of coffee, he spotted the burning coal he used to boil the water and the idea hit him. The coal would make it better. (Not sure how he knew that, but he did).

He took a piece of the hot coal and dropped it into his coffee. And he felt better.

Since it worked, entrepreneur that he was, he started selling it. And you can still buy it at the same drink stall today.

According to many, it helps alleviate bloating, nausea, heartburn and diarrhoea.

Now if you want to try more Southeast Asian coffee drinks, here’s our recipe list.

56. The Mazagran (Portugal)

Combining cold brew coffee and lemonade might sound weird, but it is, in fact delicious.

Especially if you are sitting in just about any Portuguese seaside town feeling the ocean breeze on your skin and the sun on your face, delicious mazagran in hand.

Legend has that in the 1840s French soldiers invented this drink while stationed at the Mazagran fortress (21) in Algiers, Algeria.

The coffee helped them stay awake (we hear that!) and along with the lemonade, they would often add rum (such a great idea).

What’s Your Favourite Unique Coffee Drink?

If this list teaches us anything, it is that coffee is a remarkably versatile drink. It has been adopted by cultures around the world and made into unique beverages that are truly representative of individual regions.

While not every recipe herein will appeal to every palate, each gives a fascinating look at a particular community at a certain point in history.

So try one today, or host a global tasting party and try all the different coffees beverages from around the world.

More weird and different drinks here.

Updated Jan 08 2023